Late Billups Free Throw Lifts Nuggets Past Bulls 90-89

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Game Recap

Call me old-school, but I tend to like defensive-oriented, low-scoring basketball games. That doesn’t necessarily mean I don’t like high-scoring games; on occasion, they can be entertaining. In reference to the Denver Nuggets, they usually are one of the higher scoring teams in the NBA; however, in their contest against the Chicago Bulls, defense was the rule rather than the exception as neither team was able to shoot the side of the proverbial barn (Denver shot 41.7% while Chicago shot 43.7%). As you could well imagine, things had to change – and change they did. A free throw by Chauncey Billups with 0.6 seconds left followed by a disallowed basket by the Bulls’ Brad Miller enabled Denver to escape the United Center with a 90-89 win over Chicago.

Neither team shot very well during the first quarter with the largest lead being 10-4 Chicago on a Derrick Rose jumper with 7:35 left in the period; Denver would slowly chip away at the lead, finally regaining the lead at 22-18 on a layup by Kenyon Martin. The Nuggets would take a 22-20 edge into the second period. A pair of free throws by J.R. Smith enabled Denver to take a double-digit lead at 35-25; a dunk by Taj Gibson helped Chicago get to within 43-41 as they would be down by only three at halftime.

The third quarter was evenly played as the Bulls briefly regained the lead at 54-53 on a pair of free throws by Luol Deng; a tip-in by Chris Andersen would help Denver yet regain the lead, taking them to the fourth quarter leading 71-66. The final period would, like the previous three, be tight as it was contentious for the most part; with ten seconds left in the game, Rose would make a pair of free throws, tying things up at 89. But a free throw by Billups gave Denver a 90-89 lead with 0.6 seconds remaining; Miller drained a jumper from the top of the key, but after review of the replay, the basket was disallowed – allowing the Nuggets to escape with the victory.

Carmelo Anthony led Denver with 20 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal while Billups added 17 with 2 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals; Martin pitched in 15 with 10 rebounds, an assist and a block.

Rose led all Chicago scorers with 22 points, a rebound, 5 assists, a steal and 2 blocks while Deng added 21 with 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks; Joakim Noah notched a double-double with 12 points, 21 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal and 2 blocks. Denver (6-2) plays again on Wednesday when they visit Milwaukee to face the Bucks while Chicago (4-3) jets to Toronto to take on the Raptors – also on Wednesday night.

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