Slam Dunk Central

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No one can accuse the Denver Nuggets of not having any resolve Thursday.? Nuggets guard Anthony Carter’s jumper with 0.8 seconds left in overtime #2?boosted the Nuggets to a tough, hard-earned win over the Houston Rockets 112-111 at Denver.? Neither team did especially well trying the run-and-gun offense (Denver shot 37%, Houston 40%) - not that they didn’t try.

Houston’s early success - namely in the first quarter - was on the success of the 3-point shot; Rockets guards Luther Head and Rafer Alston hit three of them (Head made 2 of them) to help the Rockets take a 23-18 lead going into the second quarter.? Denver trailed 27-23 early in the 2nd when Allen Iverson scored on a 3-point play and reserve guard Chucky Atkins made two 3-pointers to cap an 11-2 Nuggets run.? Denver led at halftime 44-42 thanks to their advantage at the free throw line; the Nuggets would outscore the Rockets 12-2 from the charity stripe as Houston was whistled for 11 fouls in the period to the Nuggets 5 fouls.

Fast forward to the late 4th quarter; Houston trailed 94-87 late in the 4th when they would score the last 7 points in regulation, including the last score by a 3-pointer by Head.? Denver led in the first overtime 100-97 but a free throw by the Rockets’ Alston, with less than a minute to go sent the game into a second overtime.? Houston led 106-103 in overtime #2 before the Niggets’ Atkins hot a 3 with 1:32 remaining.? The Rockets’ Shane Battier gave his team a 109-108 lead with a 3-pointer with 35.3 seconds left; however, Denver’s Atkins?would hit an 18-footer with 20.1 seconds remaining.

Houston’s Yao Ming made 2 free throws with 4.5 seconds left in overtime, but the winning basket was made by the Nuggets’ Carter.? Denver was led by Carmelo Anthony with 37 points and 16 rebounds - the 16 rebounds a career high for Anthony.? Iverson poured in 36 himself with 5 rebounds and 9 assists.? It is amazing that Denver won at all only because other than Anthony and Iverson, the scoring by the bench was really lacking.

Houston was led by Ming with a solid effort, scoring?26 points, 19 rebounds, and 6 assists.? Head added 22, while Alston pitched in with 18 - along with 7 rebounds and 10 assists.? Denver (15-10) travels ot the Northwest to take on the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night, while Houston (12-14) flies to Chicago to take on the Bulls Saturday.