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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) -- Antonio McDyess played through a cold and left the
Los Angeles Clippers feeling miserable.
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| Van Exel |
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| McDyess |
McDyess had 35 points and 12 rebounds and Nick Van Exel hit a
layup and free throw with five seconds remaining as the Denver
Nuggets beat the Clippers 109-108 Tuesday night.
"I felt terrible," McDyess said. "My head hurt, my throat
hurt, and I couldn't breathe on the court. I sucked it up and
played anyway."
Voshon Lenard added 18 points and Raef LaFrentz had 16 points
and 10 rebounds for Nuggets, who snapped the Clippers' two-game
winning streak and defeated Los Angeles for the fifth consecutive
time in Denver.
"Antonio had a terrible cold and played through it," Denver
coach Dan Issel said. "We missed some shots because we were taking
quick outside shots, but they had no answer for Antonio inside."
Lamar Odom shot 10-for-15 and had 21 points and eight rebounds
for Los Angeles, which led 108-106 with 20 seconds remaining.
Van Exel scored over Sean Rooks and drew a foul. Van Exel
converted the free throw and fouled Corey Magette, leaving the
Clippers less than three seconds to get off a shot.
"When we got the rebound, I looked at coach and he gave me the
nod," said Van Exel. "I eased to the left toward McDyess and I
saw the lane open a bit."
Former Nugget Jeff McInnis had an open 3-pointer at the buzzer,
but the shot hit the back iron.
"We had the lead and the ball and we didn't finish it off,"
said McInnis. "We have to take smart shots and be aggressive
defensively. We can't give up easy layups."
LaFrentz made Denver's first shot of the fourth quarter, but the
Clippers led 97-88 when Keyon Dooling and Eric Piatkowski each
scored four points. Maggete had a dunk off steal by Dooling with
8:50 left.
George McCloud's 15-foot jumper and 3-pointer pulled the Nuggets
within 99-96 with 6:45 left.
After a 3-pointer by Piatkowski, Odom's fadeaway jumper and
Maggette's putback, the Los Angeles lead was 106-97 with 4:25 left.
The Nuggets were within 106-102 with 2:35 to go after a free throw
by LaFrentz, two by McDyess and James Posey's basket off an
offensive rebound.
Van Exel hit a spinning layup and McDyess hit a short jumper to
cut the Clippers' lead to 108-106.
"We weren't playing defense well at all," said McDyess. "We
didn't put any pressure on them and we were lucky we got this
win."
Leading by one at halftime, McDyess hit his first four shots of
the third quarter as the Nuggets built a 74-68 lead. The Clippers
answered with a 13-6 run over the next 3:20, with Michael
Olowokandi accounting for six points. The run gave Los Angeles an
81-80 lead.
The Clippers led 87-84 after three quarters.
The Clippers led 31-27 one period. Odom had 12 points and Los
Angeles had 10 points off offensive rebounds.
The Clippers controlled the offensive boards in the second
quarter and built a 54-48 lead.
Denver went on a 13-7 run in the last 3:33 of the second quarter
and took a 62-61 lead at the halftime.
"We played hard for 47 minutes and 20 seconds and just didn't
get it done," Clippers coach Alvin gentry said. "We need to learn
how to execute."
Game notes
Odom made his first six shots. ... The Clippers were
outrebounded for the eighth time in 29 games. ... McDyess missed
his first three shots and finished 14-for-24. ... Denver is 11-3
when scoring 100 points and 5-11 when scoring less than 100. ...
The win matched Denver's 1994-95 start (15-14) and is the team's
best in seven seasons. ... Keon Clark was benched by Issel for
missing the morning shootaround.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
LA Clippers Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
RECAPS
Charlotte 115
Cleveland 110
Detroit 101
Boston 96
Atlanta 81
New Jersey 76
Dallas 114
Seattle 93
Milwaukee 89
Orlando 77
Minnesota 100
Toronto 97
San Antonio 103
Houston 95
Denver 109
LA Clippers 108
Philadelphia 97
Utah 91
Phoenix 97
Vancouver 95
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