Melo strikes for 32 again, leads Nuggets over Pacers 113-106

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony, left, puts up a shot against Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger during the fourth quarter of the Denver Nuggets-Indiana Pacers game played Saturday night. Denver rallied to defeat Indiana 113-106.

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is playing like an All-Star - and the season’s not two weeks old. Anthony, along with guard Allen Iverson helped Denver rally from a big first-half deficit to slip past the Indiana Pacers 113-106 at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Indiana raced out to a 21-12 lead in the first quarter; they then extended that lead to 46-31 on Pacers center Troy Murphy’s 2 free throws. But Denver started the 3rd quarter scoring 10 consecutive points, including three 3-pointers from Nuggets swingman Yakhouba Diawara to narrow their deficit to 74-66. Denver got as close as 85-80 following a 9-0 run.

The Nuggets got to within 93-92 following Denver C Marcus Camby’s jumper with 8:23 left in the game. Soon after, Denver took a brief 95-94 lead since early in the 1st quarter on Iverson’s jumper. Indiana regained the lead 101-97 after Pacers F Jermaine O’Neal’s 3-point play with less than 4 minutes left, but a 12-point run by Denver secured the win.

Anthony led 5 Denver players in double-digits with 32 points and 10 rebounds, with Iverson pouring in 27 and 10 assists; reserve G/F Linas Kleiza added 21. Camby added 10 with 4 steals and 5 blocks. Indiana had 6 players in double figures, led by Murphy with 18 points and 10 rebounds, with O’Neal adding 15 and 12 boards. Indiana F Mike Dunleavy contributed 17, while G Jamaal Tinsley chipped in 11 and 10 assists. Denver (4-3) plays again on Monday when they return home to host the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers while Indiana (3-3) do not play again until Tuesday, when they host the undefeated Boston Celtics.