The Nuggets were down 84-68 after the first three quarters as the Jazz wanted this game more than they did. Carmelo Anthony led the way for the Nuggets in this game with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 blocked shots. Chauncey Billups also had a good game with 25 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. No other player on the Nuggets scored more than 9 points in this game and it hurt them big time in the end. The Nuggets are now down 2-1 in this series.

Carmelo Anthony is shooting 54% overall from the floor in this series but he had a rough night in game #2 hitting only 9 of 25 shots from the floor. He is averaging 40.0 minutes, 37.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game so far in this series. The Nuggets need him to give up the basketball a little more when his shot is off like last night but in order to do that someone else will need to step up and no one did in game #2. Anthony is the best player in this series so I expect him to play well the rest of the series.

The Nuggets didn’t play any D last night as the Jazz shot 52.9% from the floor and it did them in. Carmelo Anthony had a rough night shooting the ball hitting only 9 of 25 shots (36%) from the floor but he still finished up with 32 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Nene Hilario pitched in with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals last night. Chauncey Billups also had a rough game as he only shot 4 of 11 from the floor yet he finished with 17 points, 3 rebounds and 11 assists. Kenyon Martin filled up the stat sheet with 15 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocked shots last night. The Nuggets are tied 1-1 in this series as it shifts to Salt Lake City.

Utah Jazz starting center Mehmet Okur ruptured his Achilles tendon in the opening game of this series and he is done for the season. With Okur out of the picture the Jazz will likely be playing a smaller lineup with both Carlos Boozer and Paul Millsap on the court at the same time. The Nuggets won’t have to worry about covering Okur pulling a big man away from the basket because of his outside shooting prowess. The Jazz will likely try to run even more than they did in game #1 trying to make the Nuggets beat them in a track meet.

This was a great game for three quarters until the Nuggets took charge outscoring the Jazz 38-27 in the 4th quarter. The Nuggets shot 57.1% from the floor in this game and they outrebounded the Jazz 42-31 which helps explain the scoreboard. Carmelo Anthony was on fire in this game finishing up with 42 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. J.R. Smith was solid off the bench with 20 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in this game. Nene’ Hilario was solid around the basket as he finished up with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Chauncey Billups (15 points), Arron Afflalo (12 points) and Ty Lawson (11 points) all pitched in on offense for the Nuggets. The Nuggets are now up 1-0 in this series.