Dec

7

Chauncey Makes Sixers Look Like Chumps in Iverson’s Return, Nuggets Win 93-83!

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap 

The lives and NBA careers of Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson have converged quite often over the last year and much to Iverson’s dismay Billups has consistently come up looking better in almost all situations. There was of course the infamous trade last  year that sent Billups tto the Denver Nuggets and Iverson to the Detroit Pistons. That would result  in the Nuggets making the NBA Western Conference Finals before succumbing to the eventual NBA Champions the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Pistons did not fare as well as Iverson became a ”Problem Child“ and Detroit would finish under .500 and just make the eighth seed in the NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs. They would lose in the first round and Iverson’s career in “Motown” was over. 

Last week Iverson signed a Free Agent contract with his original team the Philadelphia 76ers and he made his  debut with the team Monday night at the Wachovia Center against the Denver Nuggets. Iverson had a nice game in his return to Philadelphia scoring 11 points, 6 assists, 5  rebounds and 1 steal in 38 minutes of playing time. However once again it was  Billups who left the more favorable impression as the veteran point guard scored 31 points to lead Denver past the Sixers 93-83.

Philadelphia would have the lead at the end of the first three quarters but the Nuggets would pull away in the fourth to win the game handily. Andre Iguodala would lead the Sixers attack with 31 points but it was not enough to stop his team from losing their tenth straight game. 

Iverson would get a great reception during the introductions and a standing ovation from the Philadelphia crowd when he left the hardwood in the fourth. However as good as that felt it could not make up for the sting of the loss. There were positives that the 76ers could take from this contest as they had four players in double figures. However once  again the positives were not enough to compensate for the loss.

Philadelphia came out looking sharp in the first and would hold a 26-20 edge at the end of the quarter. The Nuggets would make the game tighter by the end of the second but the Sixers would still be on top as they entered the locker room at the half with the  score 44-41.

Philadelphia looked like they were on the road to victory early in the third as they would get their advantage up to double digits. But a run by Denver in the last few minutes of the period would cut the Sixers lead to a slim 65-63 as the two teams prepared for the final quarter. That would be the last time the 76ers would hold the lead as the Nuggets opened the quarter with a 14-0 run taking the lead to 77-65. Philadelphia never were able to recover and Denver would hold on for the victory.

Chauncey Billups scored 31 points, 8 assists, 8 rebounds and 1 steal while Carmelo Anthony added 14 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist in the Nuggets win.  Ty Lawson came off the bench with 12 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal while J.R. Smith  put in 11 points, 2  rebounds and 1 assist.

Andre Iguodala would put 31 points on the scoreboard for the 76ers, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists while Thaddeus Young had 21 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.  Allen Iverson would score 11 points, 6 assists, 5  rebounds and 1 steal while Elton Brand recorded a double-double with 10 points, 13 boards, 3 assists and 2 blocks. Denver improves to 16-5 and will travel to Charlotte to face the Bobcats Tuesday  while Philadelphia is now 5-16 and travel to Detroit to face the Pistons on Wednesday.

© Copyright 2009 thesackattack


Updates, Fresh From the Oven, Straight to Your Inbox

Comments

Leave a Reply