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Huge First Half Helps Nuggets Trounce Raptors

POSTED: 10:41 pm MDT March 14, 2008

(Sports Network) - Allen Iverson scored 28 points, and Carmelo Anthony added 22 points as the Denver Nuggets rolled to a 137-105 rout of the Toronto Raptors.

The Toronto loss clinched the Atlantic Division title for the Boston Celtics, who lost to Utah Friday night.

Marcus Camby had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and Chucky Atkins had 17 points and seven boards for the Nuggets, who have won two in a row. Anthony Carter and J.R. Smith each added 12 points for the Nuggets, who pulled within 1 1/2 games of idle Golden State for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Anthony Parker led the Raptors with 19 points, and Carlos Delfino had 16 points and had seven rebounds. Radoslav Nesterovic added 15 points for the slumping Raptors, who have dropped three straight and seven of nine, and hold a 1 1/2 game edge over the idle Wizards for fifth-place in the East.

"The sky's the limit for us if we play defense like we did tonight," said Iverson. "We just played an all-around game for four quarters."

Camby and the Nuggets came storming out of the gates, as the Denver forward scored 12 in the first quarter, as his team piled up 44 points. Toronto only trailed 21-19 with five minutes left in the first, but the Nuggets unrolled a 25-4 run, bridging the first two quarters.

Camby closed the first quarter with a three-pointer, and two Eduardo Najera free throws to start the second closed the push, and gave the Nuggets a commanding 46-23 lead.

Denver pushed its lead to 30 points late in the second quarter, and took a 79-57 lead into the break. The 79 points was a season-high in a half for the Nuggets, and was the most allowed in a half in Raptors history.

The Raptors trailed by 20 midway through the third quarter, until the Nuggets ripped off a 12-2 run, pushing ahead 100-70 on an Anthony dunk with 4:04 left in the third.

"We had a great game tonight. We were up and down the court," said Anthony.

Denver led 108-78 after three quarters of play, and the final 12 minutes were only academic as the Nuggets breezed to the finish line.

Game Notes

Denver's previous season-high for points in a half was 72 against Chicago on Nov. 20, a 112-91 win...The Nuggets have won 15 out of 17 at home...The Nuggets are 18-5 when Camby records a double-double.

Denver Nuggets

Scoreboard

Fri, May. 29FINAL
LA Lakers (65-17) 119
Denver (54-28) 92

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