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Nuggets handle Heat by 28 with James sidelined

Jan 14, 2011 - 8:17 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - J.R. Smith scored 28 points thanks to eight three-pointers, and Carmelo Anthony added 21, as Denver routed Miami, 130-102, at Pepsi Center.

Smith did most of his damage during the second quarter, and Anthony starred again despite constant rumors of his impending trade with New Jersey the likeliest destination. Nene added 17 points and nine rebounds, while Ty Lawson chipped in with 13 points for Denver, which has won two straight.

Chris Bosh scored 24 points and Dwyane Wade added 16 for Miami, which played without its star LeBon James, who missed his first game in a Miami Heat uniform due to an ankle injury. James suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of Wednesday's loss to the Clippers. Eddie House added 15 points and Mario Chalmers 14 for Miami, which has dropped two games in a row.

Neither team gained a competitive advantage in the opening period as Lawson and Chalmers exchanged treys in the final 12.4 seconds to keep Denver's edge at 26-23.

Miami scored the first two points of the second quarter, but Denver reeled off the next seven capped by Arron Afflalo's free throw. A three-pointer by Smith and Lawson's layup in transition pushed Denver to a 46-33 lead with just under five minutes left in the first half.

Lawson and Smith were at it again several minutes later, as the point guard slashed to the hoop for an easy bucket and Smith again stepped outside and buried a trey for a 57-40 lead. Smith made his fourth three-pointer of the period just before the halftime buzzer for a 60-43 lead.

Denver ran out to an 83-58 lead with seven successive points, totaling a 23-15 scoring stretch to begin the third period. The Nuggets led by as many as 32 points in the third stanza at 96-64 on Anthony's slam.

The Nuggets went through the motions in the fourth quarter on their way to a resounding victory.

Game Notes

Miami dropped to 2-2 on its five-game road excursion...Denver has won 14 of the last 17 meetings with the Heat...Denver made 53.3 percent of its shots and 15 three-pointers, while Miami connected on 46.1 percent of its shots and 10 three-pointers...Afflalo scored 14 points and Chauncey Billups, also involved in trade rumors, scored just six points but dished out 13 assists to zero turnovers.