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Anthony guides Nuggets past Clippers without Brand

Oct 10, 2007 - 3:48 AM By Blake Redabaugh PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Los Angeles Clippers are going to have to learn quickly how to play without All-Star forward Elton Brand.

Carmelo Anthony scored 17 points and Marcus Camby had 13 and 23 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Clippers, 119-107, in the preseason opener for both teams on Tuesday.

Brand, who has only missed an average of six games over the course of his eight-year career, ruptured his left Achilles tendon during a midsummer workout. Los Angeles is hopeful he can return for the second half of the season.

One of the players expected to pick up the slack in Brand's absence is rookie Al Thornton, the 14th overall selection out of Florida State. The 6-8, 220-pound rookie started the game and scored nine points in 34 minutes.

Tim Thomas led the Clippers with 19 points. Newly acquired free agents Ruben Patterson and Dan Dickau added eight and 15 points, respectively.

Denver raced out to a 35-22 first-quarter lead behind seven points each from Anthony, Allen Iverson and Linas Kleiza. The Clippers cut the Nuggets' lead to 55-52 at halftime after a 13-4 surge to end the first half.

The Clippers got within one point at 61-60 but the Nuggets closed the quarter on a 27-13 run. Guard Von Wafer, a late-season signee by the Nuggets, scored 10 of his 17 points during the run and the Clippers never came within eight points the rest of the way.

Both teams were playing without regular starters and key backups.

Besides Brand, Los Angeles was missing Cuttino Mobley (strained left calf), Chris Kaman (sore lower back), and Sam Cassell (sore left knee).

The Nuggets sat free agent signee Chucky Atkins (strained right groin), Anthony Carter (broken right hand), Eduardo Najera (strained lower back), Nene (strained right calf) and Kenyon Martin (right knee).

With Denver missing both Atkins and Carter at the point guard position they turned to third-year pro Anthony Roberson. Signed as a training camp invitee, Roberson scored eight points in the first half, including two 3-pointers.