Nuggets 96 - 88 Pelicans
Final
  for this game

Gallinari, Nuggets take down Hornets

Jan 7, 2012 - 6:14 AM New Orleans, LA (Sports Network) - Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points and dished out six assists, as the Denver Nuggets used a strong second half to beat the New Orleans Hornets, 96-88.

Al Harrington added 14 points and six rebounds for the Nuggets, who have won four in a row. Arron Afflalo and Ty Lawson donated 13 and 12 points, respectively, with the latter adding eight assists.

Greivis Vasquez ended with 16 points for New Orleans while Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry both scored 15 points.

The new-look Hornets have dropped five straight since opening the season with back-to-back wins.

"Playing on a team where almost none of the guys were here last year, besides a couple, it's tough. Chemistry is something that a coach can't teach," said Landry.

Marco Belinelli tallied 13 points for New Orleans, which was outscored, 55-41, in the second half.

Ahead by one, 23-22, with 2:34 left in the first quarter, the Hornets ripped off nine straight points to grab a 32-22 margin. The score was 32-24 after 12 minutes of action.

New Orleans led by as many as 13 in the second period, but Denver started to chip away late in the frame. The Nuggets used a 11-4 run to close out the half and get within six, 47-41.

"To start the game like we did was very disappointing," said Denver coach George Karl, "(but) the response was really positive to see. ... We created our offense with our defense."

Down by nine, 63-54, with 2:15 left in the third quarter, Denver went on 19-0 run. Andre Miller tallied five points during the burst, which Lawson capped with two free throws for a 73-63 lead with 9:37 left in the fourth.

A Vasquez three-pointer cut the gap to 78-73 with 6:31 to go, but the Nuggets scored the next seven points.

New Orleans never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

Game Notes

New Orleans took two of three from Denver last season...Miller had 13 points for Denver, which went 17-for-22 from the foul line...The Hornets were without forward Trevor Ariza (groin) and guard Eric Gordon (knee).






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