12/19/2006 - Denver, CO (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Despite having their top two scorers suspended until January, the Denver Nuggets used a big first quarter and 29 points from Earl Boykins, on the way to a 117-108 win over the Washington Wizards.
Boykins, who went 14-of-15 from the foul line, wasn't the only player with a big offensive performance for the Nuggets, winners of two straight. Andre Miller had 27 points and Marcus Camby was dominant inside with 25 points, 17 rebounds and seven blocked shots.
Denver will play deep into January without the league's leading scorer, as Carmelo Anthony was hit with a 15-game suspension in the wake of Saturday night's ugly brawl in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 123-100 victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Three of the seven players suspended were from the Nuggets. J.R. Smith, who was taken down on a breakaway layup attempt, was hit with a 10-game suspension and Nene was suspended one game for leaving the bench during the altercation.
Anthony and Smith are the Nuggets' top two scorers, combining to average better than 48 points per game.
"Like I said this morning, guys are going to have to step up," Camby said. "We're missing like 50 points with J.R. and Carmelo. A lot of people probably thought we were going to fall flat when you miss a key component like Carmelo Anthony."
Commissioner David Stern levied a fine of $500,000 against each team, but neither coach was suspended.
Nuggets coach George Karl unleashed a verbal tirade at Knicks coach Isiah Thomas on Monday. Thomas told Anthony not to go into the lane late in the fourth quarter with the Nuggets holding an insurmountable lead. Karl noted that Thomas' actions were premeditated, but despite the brawl, neither coach was suspended.
"In general, I think you saw a team that played with a lot of heart," Karl said after Monday's win. "I'm really proud to be a Denver Nugget tonight."
Caron Butler had 26 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for Washington, which was coming off Sunday night's 147-141 road overtime win over the Lakers. Gilbert Arenas, who had a franchise-record 60 points in that game, ended with 23 points, eight boards and seven assists against the Nuggets, but shot just 10-of-30 from the field.
The Nuggets led by 20 after one quarter, but the Wizards hung tough and fought back to get within two at 93-91 with under six minutes left following a basket from Arenas. However, Denver scored the next nine points, with Boykins' three capping the spurt, and the Wizards didn't threaten the rest of the way.
"We just wanted to come out and be aggressive tonight, because we knew they played last night," Miller said. "It's tough when your big guns are out, but this is a chance for some guys to step up."
Linas Kleiza had 10 points for Denver, which went 34-of-44 from the foul line.
Antawn Jamison had 21 points and nine boards for Washington.
The Nuggets scored the first six points and led 36-16 after 12 minutes. It was 65-43 at the half and 85-73 going into the fourth.
"Obviously the first quarter was the story tonight," Washington coach Eddie Jordan said. "We knew they would come out emotionally charged, and we were emotionally spent. I give my guys credit because we came back and worked hard, but Denver just made shots when they needed to."
Game Notes
Anthony isn't eligible to return for the Nuggets until a January 20 game at Houston...DeShawn Stevenson had 16 points for Washington.
<< Miller, Grizzlies top Sonics in double-OT
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Mike Miller scored a team-high 29 points,
pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out seven assists as the Memphis Grizzlies
held on to beat the SuperSonics, 134-126, in the second overtime at
FedExFo
<< Grambling lets go of Spears
Grambling, LA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Grambling State University president Dr.
Horace A. Judson announced Monday that Melvin Spears stint as head football
coach has ended immediately.
"It is time to change the direction of Grambling's f
<< Short-handed Knicks win on Marbury's buzzer-beater
New York, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Stephon Marbury hit the game-winning layup as
the clock expired in overtime, lifting the undermanned New York Knicks over
the Utah Jazz, 97-96, at Madison Square Garden.
Marbury ended with 29 points and
<< Vols clip Cowboys in final seconds
Nashville, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dane Bradshaw tipped in the game-winning
shot with 1.9 seconds left, as the Tennessee Volunteers upset the 15th-ranked
Oklahoma State Cowboys, 79-77.
With the game deadlocked at 77, Bradshaw followed a
Strong third period boosts Ducks past Flames >>
Anaheim, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Samuel Pahlsson scored the game-winning goal in
the third period and Jean-Sebastien Giguere made 27 saves as the Anaheim Ducks
defeated the Calgary Flames, 4-1, at the Honda Center.
Andy McDonald, Dustin Penn
Blue Jackets 4, Red Wings 3 >>
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Sergei Fedorov gave the Detroit Red Wings a reminder of what they used to have.Fedorov scored twice and added an assist against his former team as the Columbus Blue Jackets held on to beat Detroit 4-3 on Monday night.``I think i
Cristobal taking over at FIU >>
Miami, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Florida International will reportedly name Mario
Cristobal its new head football coach on Tuesday.
The Miami Herald reported that the school has scheduled a press conference for
Tuesday to make the former Mia
Orange attempt to slay Dragons in the Carrier Dome >>
Syracuse, NY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The 23rd-ranked Syracuse Orange are always
tough to beat at home, and they welcome the Drexel Dragons to the Carrier
Dome for a non-conference contest.
Since starting the season 2-2, Drexel
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers SPORTS TRASH TALK
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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