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Anthony leads Nuggets past Clippers

Nov 27, 2008 - 7:51 AM By John Reger PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Two new faces finally got to play for the Los Angeles Clippers, but it was the same old result.

Carmelo Anthony had 30 points and 11 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets handed the Clippers their 13th with a 106-105 victory on Wednesday.

The Clippers trailed by eight after three quarters but fought back to tie the game at 103-103 on rookie Eric Gordon's 3-pointer with 1:35 remaining.

Anthony gave Denver the lead on a jumper with 1:14 left to play and Denver was clinging to a one-point lead in the final seconds when former Nuggets center Marcus Camby's desperation 3-pointer from the top of the arc grazed the front rim.

"Going down I was thinking (Baron Davis) was going to shoot it," Camby said. "I didn't know how much time was on the clock. I thought I had a good look at it. It was on a good line it was just short."

The game marked the Clippers debut for Zach Randolph and Mardy Collins. The newest Clippers were acquired in a trade from New York for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas, but had to wait three games until Mobley passed his physical. Randolph played 25 minutes and scored seven points in his debut, while Collins was held without a point in seven minutes.

"I didn't play good, but just trying to get the rhythm back," Randolph said. "I haven't played ball in a week and kind of felt it out there. Indecisive in my moves and my shot. My game wasn't good at all, but other guys played good."

Mike Dunleavy, who made the deal, wasn't there to see his two newest players. Dunleavy, who is coach and general manager, had a death in his family and was not at the game. Assistant Kim Hughes coached the team.

The Clippers had a 20-16 lead in the first quarter, but the Nuggets went on a 16-0 run in which the Clippers didn't score on nine possessions over 4:01 before finally scoring on Mike Taylor's jumper with 20 seconds remaining in the quarter.

Denver had a 44-33 lead in the second quarter, but Los Angeles went on 9-0 run to get within two points and trailed, 56-55, at the half.

"It was our worst defensive effort in the paint all year long by far," Denver coach George Karl said. "We have to address that. I don't like the way we played. It was the most disappointing defensive effort this team has had all season."

The Nuggets never trailed during the second half and pushed their advantage to 77-64 on a 9-0 burst with 1:36 left in the third quarter.

Los Angeles fought back in the fourth and Davis' three-point play and Gordon's 3-pointer tied the game at 103-103.

"We won, you can't please coaches but that is a good thing," Anthony said. "He (Karl) wants us to be better, so that's what we have to do. But we won the game."

Gordon finished with 24 points in his second consecutive start to lead the Clippers and Davis had 18 and 10 assists.