Nuggets rout Blazers behind Carmelo Anthony’s big game

Coach George Karl wanted to make a statement when he suspended Carmelo Anthony for a game after he refused to come out for a substitute.  In his first game back, Anthony made a statement of his own as he scored 38 points as the Denver Nuggets routed the visiting Portland Trailblazers 106-90 at the Pepsi Center on Thursday night.

Denver came out of the gate fast against Portland, leading 32-18 at the end of the first quarter.  After that, the Blazers were never really able to get back into the contest.  Portland hasn’t enjoyed their visits to “The Mile High City” of late—Thursday’s loss was the Blazers’ 11^th in their last 12 games against the Nuggets in Denver.  After the game, Anthony spoke about his desire to put on a good performance following his one game suspension:

"I wanted to be aggressive tonight with a must-win after the two losses. After everything that was going on, it was good to come out and have a good game tonight. ... I was feeling it since this morning. I wanted this game so bad tonight."

J.R. Smith added 17 points for the Nuggets, Nene scored 16 and Linas Kleiza contributed 15 off the bench.  Portland was led by Brandon Roy’s 22 points and LaMarcus Aldridge with 19.  The only other Blazers scoring in double figures were Travis Outlaw with 15 and Rudy Fernandez with 11.  The Blazers’ Roy knew that Anthony would be anxious to put up a good performance against them:

"We knew he was going to try to come out and play extremely hard. He was going to bring it."

Despite this, noted LaMarcus Aldridge, the Blazers were unable to do anything to stop him:

"First of all, when you have a game off, you come back fresh. He had a game off, had time to rest. Secondly, he wanted to come back and make a statement that ... he still can do what he does."