Denver Nuggets end preseason
with big win
By The Associated Press
DenverPost.com
Los Angeles - DerMarr Johnson
scored 17 points to help the
Denver Nuggets
beat the Los Angeles Clippers 112-86 on
Friday night in the preseason finale for
both teams.
Andre Miller had 15 points
and nine assists and Reggie Evans had 13
rebounds for the defending Northwest Division
champions, who finished their exhibition
slate 5-3. They are back at Staples Center
next Thursday night for the season opener
against the Clippers, whom they lost to
in the first round of the playoffs.
Corey Maggette had 16 points
and nine rebounds for the Clippers, who
also finished the preseason 5-3 after shooting
just 29.7 percent against the Nuggets. They
are coming off their best season in franchise
history, going 47-35 and then beating Denver
in five games before getting eliminated
in the second round of the playoffs by the
Phoenix Suns.
Carmelo Anthony didn't
see action for Denver after getting 32 Thursday
night in a victory over the Lakers. Neither
did Nene, who rested his right knee after
playing on Thursday. Center Marcus Camby
missed his sixth straight game because of
a cyst in his left foot and is taking medication
for it.
Nene hopes to make it through
the season opener this time. Last year,
the 23-year-old center blew out his right
knee and missed the final 81 games of the
season and the playoffs. The Nuggets signed
the restricted free agent to a six-year,
$60 million contract in July.
Denver forward Kenyon Martin
scored 13 points in 16 minutes.
Martin's limited minutes
against the Clippers in the playoffs led
to a heated confrontation with coach George
Karl during halftime of Game 2 in Los Angeles,
and a subsequent suspension for insubordination.
Martin, who has been mum on the subject
in recent days, is still due more than $70
million over five years.
The Nuggets never trailed,
running out to a 35-17 lead while the Clippers
missed 16 of their first 22 shots. Los Angeles
never got closer than 13 points after Elton
Brand's three-point play made it 69-56 with
8:05 left in the third quarter. The Nuggets
put it away in the fourth, as Joe Smith
scored eight points during an 18-6 run that
opened up a 103-76 lead with 3:08 remaining.
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