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Denver Nuggets

38-28, Western Conference (6th)
Team RankingPTS/GOPP PTS/G
Northwest Division104.1 (1st)101.2 (5th)
Western Conference1st13th
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Nuggets report: Getting inside

 
Getting inside · Notes, quotes · Roster
 

If anybody knows the groove Carmelo Anthony is in, it's Dwyane Wade.

Wade, the Miami star, led the NBA in scoring last season with a 30.2 points per game average. Anthony so far this season is second in the NBA with a 32.0 points per game average.

"Right now, he's balling," said Wade, whose Heat plays host Friday to Anthony's Nuggets. "He's a man possessed right now. I've watched him play and I'm enjoying the show."

Heat players and coaches, though, don't want to see Anthony put on a show Friday. But they have great respect for the way the forward is playing.

"He looks good," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "I could realize it immediately how much quicker he looks (watching him on film). He looks like he's lost 15 to 20 pounds (actually 12). He also has a different definiteness to his attack right now. He looks like he wants to make sure that Denver gets off to a great start. He's aggressive. He's putting the team on his back."

Thanks to Anthony, the Nuggets sure have gotten off to a good start. They're 5-0 after Wednesday's 122-94 rout at New Jersey.

Anthony is vying for his first scoring title. Wade, a good friend of Anthony's and his Olympic teammate in 2004 and 2008, says Anthony can have it after Wade won his first last season.

"Carmelo is a guy that can play outside and inside," Wade said. "He's playing great. If he wants to lead the league in scoring, that's fine."

NUGGETS 122, NETS 94: The Nuggets made up for last season's embarrassment. After losing 114-70 last season at New Jersey, the Nuggets turned the tables with a rout of the Nets on Wednesday.

Then again, only the second half was a rout. Denver outscored New Jersey 72-43 in the second half after training 51-50 at intermission.

"The first half, we couldn't get it going at all," said Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups.

But it wasn't hard in the second half against New Jersey, which is 0-5 and the NBA's only winless team. The Nuggets are 5-0, their best start since 1985-86, when they began 6-0.

Nuggets rookie point guard Ty Lawson scored a game-high 23 points. Forward Carmelo Anthony added 22 points for Denver, although he shot just 8-of-24.

"The equalizer in NBA basketball is that the game is long and the better team usually comes out after a while," said Nuggets coach George Karl.

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