NBA: Denver Nuggets balanced attack too much for visiting Clippers

The Denver Nuggets got seven of their ranks to finish with double-digit scoring, as their wealth of options on offense overwhelmed the visiting Los Angeles Clippers, Thursday (Friday, PHL time) at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.

The Nuggets stretched their win streak to seven straight games, good for a 41-22 record, having not lost since a slip-up against the Washington Wizards last February 22 (Feb. 23, PHL time).

The Clippers on the other hand stumbled to 44-20.

Down 10 with a quarter to go, Clippers floor general Chris Paul came out looking to score, nailing a fade-away and a triple to sandwich Wilson Chandler's triple, 88-80. However, after that initial burst of offense, the Nuggets tightened up on defense, going on a 9-2 run that extended their lead to 97-82, 5:04 left.

Baskets from Caron Butler and Blake Griffin tried to keep LA in the mix, as they stayed within 15 with 3:33 left on the clock, but a lay-up by Matt Barnes was met by a trey from Ty Lawson, for a 107-89 Denver lead, just 1:52 remaining. That led to the Clippers waving the white flag, as head coach Vinnie Del Negro subbed out Paul and Griffin, allowing Denver to put this one away.

It was very telling that the Clippers' 17-point fourth quarter was the only time either side scored less than 20 markers in a period.

The two teams had played to a 49-49 tie at the break, with Clipper Matt Barnes leading the charge with a game-high 15 points on 50 percent shooting.

LA however couldn't seem to keep up their pace, especially on the second night of a back-to-back, having beaten the Milwaukee Bucks the previous day, 117-101. As a result, they gave up a whopping 6-of-7 three-point shooting quarter to the Nuggets, helping the home team build an 85-75 lead with 12 minutes left.

Overall, the Nuggets shot 77.8 percent in the third, while holding LA to a 45 percent clip.

Ty Lawson finished with a game-best 21 points, 10 coming in that crucial third quarter, and added 11 assists versus no turnovers. Danilo Gallinari was not far behind with 20, 10 also coming in the third, plus a total of five rebounds, six dimes and two steals.

Andere Iguodala chimed in with 14, while Wilson Chandler and Andre Miller had 12 apiece off the bench.

LA drew 17 points from Blake Griffin, but the high-jumping forward managed a mere two rebounds. Chris Paul had a double-double of 16 points and 10 assists, but Matt Barnes top-scored for the visitors with 19, though he wound up taking 20 shots.

Denver finished shooting 55.8 percent from the field, versus the 42.4 mark of LA. All but 10 of the Nuggets' 43 made field goals were assisted. - AMD, GMA News