March 23rd, 2008 
Stephen Rhodes 
Posted in 
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Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson has historically always played well against the Toronto Raptors, averaging 30.4 PPG in 30 career games against the Raptors; Sunday’s game wouldn’t really be any different, as he and Carmelo Anthony combined for 69 points, leading Denver to a 109-100 victory over Toronto at Air Canada Centre.
A quick start?by Toronto’s Andrea Bargnani helped the Raptors take a 17-point lead in the first quarter; Bargnani had 16 in the opening period as Toronto went out in front 35-18, before Denver’s J.R. Smith scored 5 straight points, narrowing the Raptors’ lead to 35-23 after one period.? The Nuggets outscored the Raptors 23-19, reducing their lead to 54-46 going into halftime.
Denver trailed for three quarters before taking its first lead at 74-73 on a 3-pointer by Linas Kleiza on their first possession of the final period; but the Nuggets’ Iverson made 2 treys – including one with 1:07 left in the game – that capped a 7-0 Denver run that gave the Nuggets an insurmountable, 103-98 edge.? Denver was led by Iverson with 36 points, including 5 treys, 2 rebounds and 6 assists while Anthony scored 33 with 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals; Smith added 14 from off the bench, along with 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal.
Toronto had 7 players in double-digits, led by Jose Calderon and Chris Bosh with 17 points each – with Calderon grabbing 3 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists while Bosh grabbed 12 rebounds, dished out 9 assists (1 assist shy of a triple-double) and a block; Bargnani scored 16 with 4 rebounds while Jamario Moon chipped in with 15 along with 15 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 3 blocks.? Denver (42-28) now flies to Tennessee to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday while Toronto (35-35) makes the short trip to Detroit to take on the Pistons Wednesday.
