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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
DENVER (AP) -- After some high-altitude teasing from his
teammates, James Posey elevated his game -- on his birthday, no less.
|  | | Doug Christie scored 14 points for the Kings, but missed 10 of his 14 shots. |
Posey recorded his first career double-double with 13 points and
a career-high 19 rebounds to help offset an off night by Antonio
McDyess as the Denver Nuggets beat the Sacramento Kings 106-93 on
Friday night.
While flying home from their recent two-game road trip, McDyess
and other Denver players ribbed Posey about failing to reach 10
rebounds. Posey, in his second season, had nine rebounds six
previous times.
"This was a night I felt I could get every rebound," said
Posey, who turned 24 Friday. "I had been stuck on nine. I started
early and tried to get every rebound possible."
The im-Posing performance was part of a balanced Denver attack
as the Nuggets had six players in double figures. Nick Van Exel led
the way with 25 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter.
"You saw Nick turn it on," Sacramento forward Chris Webber
said. "He's been a King-killer for a long time and he didn't stop
tonight."
McDyess struggled through a 6-for-21 shooting night in an
anticipated matchup against Webber, but he still managed 15 points
and 12 rebounds for his 11th straight double-double.
Webber led the Kings with 24 points and 14 rebounds but lamented
the inability to contain Posey, a 6-foot-8 swingman.
"Their small guys rebounded well," Webber said. "I know it
was Posey's birthday, but how many did he have? Nineteen?"
Playing shorthanded after a six-player trade with Toronto just
hours earlier, the Nuggets took an 11-point lead early in the
fourth quarter before the Kings pulled to 84-81 with 7:57
remaining.
Posey turned the momentum when he stole a pass from Jon Barry to
thwart a 3-on-1 fast break, and McDyess dunked a miss by Van Exel
to give Denver an 88-81 lead with 6:26 left. The Nuggets, who have
won 11 of 14, outrebounded Sacramento 58-45.
"The boards killed us. That and quick shots," Kings coach Rick
Adelman said. "We worked hard defensively but gave up second
opportunities. There was no way we were going to win that game."
Sacramento, held under 100 points for just the ninth time in 33
games, never got closer than five points in the final five minutes
as Van Exel and George McCloud helped put the game away with
back-to-back 3-pointers in the waning minutes.
"We were able to win a basketball game when Antonio struggled
shooting the ball," Denver coach Dan Issel said. "We were able to
do that for a number of reasons, not the least of which was the
great game that Posey played."
Facing Webber for the first time this season, McDyess missed
several short shots and admitted to letting the trade affect his
play.
"It had nothing to do with Webber or anything," he said. "When I came in here and found out about the trade and about Keon, that was on my mind more than anything. I took it to the court, which I shouldn't have done."
For his part, Webber seemed content to stay outside, scoring
just eight points inside the paint. He was the only Kings player
who had consistent success from the perimeter as Sacramento
finished 5-for-22 from 3-point range. Denver was 10-for-26 from
beyond the arc.
Voshon Lenard, who had 22 points, scored eight points in the
final four minutes of the third quarter, including a 3-pointer with
three seconds left to give the Nuggets a 78-71 lead heading to the
fourth.
The shot clock was a non-factor in the first half as both teams
pushed the pace. The Nuggets got 14 points from Raef LaFrentz and a
career-high 13 rebounds from Posey in the first 24 minutes but
trailed 53-51 at halftime.
Game notes
The Nuggets placed G Calbert Cheaney on the injured list
with a strained left hamstring. ... McCloud returned to the team
after missing two games because of a family emergency. ... LaFrentz
grabbed his 1,000th career rebound. ... After seven straight home
games, Sacramento began a stretch of five of six on the road. ...
Webber and McDyess are two of five players averaging at least 20
points and 10 rebounds.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Sacramento Clubhouse
Denver Clubhouse
Raptors send Willis to Nuggets in 6-player trade
RECAPS
Philadelphia 86
Washington 82
Toronto 93
Boston 72
San Antonio 111
Detroit 90
Minnesota 95
LA Clippers 89
Charlotte 86
Chicago 85
Denver 106
Sacramento 93
Seattle 115
Vancouver 102
LA Lakers 101
Cleveland 98
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