Box Score

 

DENVER (106)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
C Anthony           38  5-12   4-5   3-6   1   1   14
K Martin            43  8-19   3-5   1-8   0   4   19
M Camby              7   3-3   0-0   0-1   0   3    6
E Boykins           39  7-12   6-6   0-1   8   0   20
A Miller            36  5-10   4-4   0-4   4   2   14
Nene                38   4-8  9-10   4-8   4   5   17
G Buckner           21   3-7   1-2   1-3   5   2    8
B Russell           10   2-3   0-0   1-2   0   1    4
F Elson              8   2-3   0-0   0-0   0   2    4
D Johnson          DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
R White            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
N Tskitishvili     DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 39-77 27-32 10-33  22  20  106
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.506, FT-.844. 3-Point Goals:
1-6, .167 (K Martin 0-2, G Buckner 1-3, B 
Russell 0-1). Team Rebounds: 9. Blocked 
Shots:7 (K Martin 3, B Russell, M Camby, 
Nene, G Buckner). Turnovers:14 (C Anthony 4, 
A Miller 3, K Martin 3, E Boykins 2, B 
Russell, M Camby). Steals: 10 (G Buckner 4, M
Camby 2, B Russell, C Anthony, E Boykins, A 
Miller).


CLEVELAND (101)

                          fg    ft    rb             
                   min   m-a   m-a   o-t   a  pf   tp
L James             43 12-29 10-12   2-6   6   2   35
D Gooden            32   5-7   2-4  4-13   2   2   12
Z Ilgauskas         40  8-14  9-10  7-14   2   3   25
J McInnis           37  5-10   1-1   0-0   3   5   12
I Newble            18   0-1   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
R Traylor           19   2-6   0-0   0-3   1   5    4
A Pavlovic          13   3-4   0-0   0-1   0   2    6
E Snow              16   1-3   1-2   0-0   4   3    3
L Harris            17   0-3   4-4   0-0   1   0    4
J Moiso              3   0-0   0-0   0-1   0   0    0
D Diop               2   0-0   0-0   0-0   0   0    0
S Williams         DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                               
  
_____________________________________________________
TOTALS             240 36-77 27-33 13-38  19  22  101
_____________________________________________________

Percentages: FG-.468, FT-.818. 3-Point Goals:
2-10, .200 (L James 1-6, J McInnis 1-2, A 
Pavlovic 0-1, L Harris 0-1). Team Rebounds: 
10. Blocked Shots:10 (Z Ilgauskas 5, R 
Traylor 2, D Gooden 2, L Harris). 
Turnovers:17 (Z Ilgauskas 7, L James 4, D 
Gooden 3, J McInnis 2, A Pavlovic). Steals: 7
(R Traylor 2, A Pavlovic 2, E Snow, L James, 
L Harris).

--------------------------------------------
DENVER                30  16  29  31  -  106
CLEVELAND             29  27  20  25  -  101
-------------------------------------------- 

Technical fouls: None.
Flagrant fouls: None. A: 20,562. T: 2:27. 
Officials: Joe Forte, Orlandis Poole, Scott 
Wall.

Extended Box

 

DENVER (106) AT CLEVELAND (101)

DENVER

                                               REBOUNDS                        
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
C ANTHONY         F    38    5-12     4-5      3   3   6    1   1   1   4   14
K MARTIN          F    43    8-19     3-5      1   7   8    0   4   0   3   19
M CAMBY           C     7    3-3      0-0      0   1   1    0   3   2   1    6
E BOYKINS         G    39    7-12     6-6      0   1   1    8   0   1   2   20
A MILLER          G    36    5-10     4-4      0   4   4    4   2   1   3   14
NENE                   38    4-8      9-10     4   4   8    4   5   0   0   17
G BUCKNER              21    3-7      1-2      1   2   3    5   2   4   0    8
B RUSSELL              10    2-3      0-0      1   1   2    0   1   1   1    4
F ELSON                 8    2-3      0-0      0   0   0    0   2   0   0    4
D JOHNSON             DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
R WHITE               DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
N TSKITISHVILI        DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   39-77    27-32    10  23  33   22  20  10  14  106
                            (.506)  (.844)  TEAM REBS:  9 TOTAL TO: 14 (14 PTS)    

CLEVELAND

                                               REBOUNDS                         
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===
 
L JAMES           F    43   12-29    10-12     2   4   6    6   2   1   4   35
D GOODEN          F    32    5-7      2-4      4   9  13    2   2   0   3   12
Z ILGAUSKAS       C    40    8-14     9-10     7   7  14    2   3   0   7   25
J MCINNIS         G    37    5-10     1-1      0   0   0    3   5   0   2   12
I NEWBLE          G    18    0-1      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   0    0
R TRAYLOR              19    2-6      0-0      0   3   3    1   5   2   0    4
A PAVLOVIC             13    3-4      0-0      0   1   1    0   2   2   1    6
E SNOW                 16    1-3      1-2      0   0   0    4   3   1   0    3
L HARRIS               17    0-3      4-4      0   0   0    1   0   1   0    4
J MOISO                 3    0-0      0-0      0   1   1    0   0   0   0    0
D DIOP                  2    0-0      0-0      0   0   0    0   0   0   0    0
S WILLIAMS            DNP  - COACH'S DECISION                                         
  
TOTALS                240   36-77    27-33    13  25  38   19  22   7  17  101
                            (.468)  (.818)  TEAM REBS: 10 TOTAL TO: 17 (22 PTS)    
  
   DENVER             30   16   29   31   -   106
   CLEVELAND          29   27   20   25   -   101
  
BLOCKED SHOTS: DENVER - K MARTIN 3, B RUSSELL, M CAMBY, NENE, G BUCKNER.
CLEVELAND - Z ILGAUSKAS 5, R TRAYLOR 2, D GOODEN 2, L HARRIS.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: DENVER 1-6 (.167), K MARTIN 0-2, G BUCKNER 1-3,
B RUSSELL 0-1. CLEVELAND 2-10 (.200), L JAMES 1-6, J MCINNIS 1-2,
A PAVLOVIC 0-1, L HARRIS 0-1.
TECHNICAL FOULS: NONE.
FLAGRANT FOULS: NONE.
OFFICIALS: JOE FORTE, ORLANDIS POOLE, SCOTT WALL.
A - 20,562. T - 2:27.

Game Story

CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- For the second time in as many seasons, 
little Earl Boykins came home, upstaged the big showdown between
LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony and drove the Denver Nuggets
to victory.

Boykins had 20 points and eight assists and fueled a
fourth-quarter run as the Nuggets defeated the Cleveland
Cavaliers, 106-101, for their sixth win in eight games.

The smallest player in the NBA, Boykins also stole the spotlight
here last season, when James and Anthony met for the first time
as NBA rivals.  He scored 18 points to lead Denver to a 93-89
win November 5, 2003.

A Cleveland native who once played for the Cavaliers, Boykins
continues to make a believer out of new Nuggets coach George
Karl.  The 5-5 guard scored at least 19 points for the third
straight game and ran his free throw streak to 57.

"(Boykins) was the best player on the court in the third
quarter," Karl said.  "More than anything, he brought
confidence."

"(Boykins) played big when we were stumbling around," Nuggets
guard Andre Miller said. "This is his hometown.  He did his
thing."

The Nuggets used a 10-3 spurt to close the third quarter and cut
the deficit to 76-75 entering the final period.  Boykins had
two free throws and a jumper to give Denver an 81-78 advantage.

A layup by Eric Snow pulled Cleveland into an 85-85 tie with
8:08 remaining before Denver went to its running game. Francisco
Elson dunked before Boykins set up Kenyon Martin for a slam.
Anthony added a fast-break layup and two free throws by Martin
made it 93-85 with 5:54 to go.

Boosted by Boykins, the Nuggets held a 25-4 advantage in
fast-break points.  Cavaliers coach Paul Silas was disappointed
with his team's play in the fourth quarter.

"That's what it looked like (that Denver was the hungrier
team)," Silas said.  "We really didn't defend well.  We didn't
get back in transition."

Boykins believes the Nuggets, who do not have any consistent
perimeter shooters, have to run to be successful.

"Not just tonight, but for the rest of the season," he said.
"We're the type of team that struggles in the half court.  We
have to get out and run if we are going to be successful."

Two more free throws by Boykins made it 99-92 before James had a
three-point play - his first points in nearly eight minutes -
with 3:07 remaining.

"They wanted the game a little more than us tonight," James
admitted.  "They made some easy buckets and got some run-outs
and that is what changed the game."

Miller, a former Cavalier, answered with a jumper at the 2:17
mark.  It was a two-possession game thereafter.

James scored 35 points as he won his overhyped duel with
Anthony, who scored 14.  The players have been linked since
being drafted first and third, respectively, in 2003.

"We've got to live with that until we retire," Anthony said.
"(James) did a helluva of job, but we won the game.  I didn't
play the greatest game, but we won."

Martin scored 19 points and Nene added 17 off the bench for the
Nuggets, who lost big man Marcus Camby to a bruised hip in a bad
first half.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas had 25 points and 14 rebounds and Drew Gooden
added 12 and 13 for the Cavaliers, who held a 56-46 halftime
lead but shot 41 percent from the floor in the second half.

"(The first half) was probably the worst half that we've played
since I've been here," Karl said.  "I challenged them to play
more physical.  LeBron's a good player, but don't just give it
to him."