Recap: Denver vs. Milwaukee
Sports Network | November 18, 2008
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Linas Kleiza scored a season-high 25 points in a reserve role, guiding Denver to a 114-105 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
Carmelo Anthony had 17 points and Nene scored 13 for the Nuggets, who have won three in a row and six of seven. Chauncey Billups, acquired in the Allen Iverson deal to Detroit, scored 11 and dished out five assists as the Nuggets continued to progress from the Nov. 3 blockbuster deal.
"It feels good to get rest, having everybody contribute and still win," said Anthony. "Regardless of who's out there, we wanted to attack early. We're winning and that's a great feeling. You don't want to get complacent though."
Dahntay Jones chipped in 15 points, while Renaldo Balkman and Kenyon Martin each scored 10 in the victory, Denver's 10th in the last 12 meetings with the Bucks.
"We got a win and that's all that matters," said Kleiza. "We're definitely feeling good about ourselves now. We're just trying not to have any let-down games."
Andrew Bogut was limited to two points and three rebounds, but piled up four fouls in just 16 minutes of court time for the Bucks, losers of two straight and five of seven. Charlie Bell had a season-high 25 points for Milwaukee, which posted six players in double figures.
"We weren't ready to play tonight," said Bucks coach Scott Skiles. "It was just a very poor effort all the way around from everybody."
Kleiza's three-pointer keyed a late first quarter run, and the Nuggets took a 34-28 lead into the second period. He then highlighted a 19-3 second quarter push with seven points. J.R. Smith's two free throw ended the flurry for a 53-33 advantage at the midway point of the second quarter and it was 64-50 at the half.
Denver continued to hold a sizeable lead throughout the third and carried a 91-73 advantage going to the fourth. The Bucks only cut the deficit under double digits with just over two minutes left on an Austin Croshere jumper for a 111-102 difference.
Croshere finished with 17 points, Joe Alexander 14, Richard Jefferson 12, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute 11 and Ramon Sessions 10 for the Bucks...Milwaukee was 10-of-20 from beyond the arc...The Nuggets shot 50.7 percent from the field...Denver has won six of its last seven at home versus the Bucks...Balkman had a career-high four blocked shots, but left the game with a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter. He's day-to-day.
