The atmosphere and circumstances were ideal for a celebration.
Allen Iverson had finally arrived in Denver. He slipped on the Nuggets uniform he claims to be his favorite. He entered the game to an ovation. He scored 22 points and dished out 10 assists off the bench. Only one minor detail went awry Friday night:
Denver lost to Sacramento, 101-96. Iverson emerged from the bench late in the first quarter and scored two minutes later on a 13-foot fadeaway jumper. Though weary from jet lag and a drive to the arena slowed to a crawl due to a traffic jam, he remained on the court the rest of the game, energized by the reception.
Bet on Allen Iverson at WagerWeb.com and receive 50% in sign-up bonuses! "That's all I wanted – to be welcomed," he told the Associated Press. "And just try to fit in the best way I can and just give the Denver Nuggets all I can give them, giving them everything I've been giving the Sixers for 10 years." Iverson and fellow point guard Earl Boykins gave the Kings a preview of havoc to come. They combined for 47 points and 19 rebounds. The two could pair up in the starting backcourt with Carmelo Anthony moving to power forward when he returns from injury, but that would create the smallest lineup in the NBA. Boykins is the smallest player in the league at 5-foot-7, and Iverson is also a tad under 6-foot. Click for Live NBA Point Spreads The Kings, meanwhile, received unexpected production from forward John Salmons, who was replacing the injured Ron Artest in the starting lineup. Salmons finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds. WHO WOULDA THUNK IT? What was the probability in recent years that the Los Angeles Lakers would win a game against a decent team on the road in which Kobe Bryant hit 4 of 13 shots from the field? Try almost nil. But these are not the same Lakers. Six players scored in double figures Friday night in a 99-95 victory at New Jersey. Jordan Farmar, Andrew Bynum and Maurice Evans all came off the bench to score at least 10 points apiece, including key contributions in the decisive fourth quarter The Lakers (18-9) rest one game behind Phoenix in the Pacific Division. The Nets play at surging Milwaukee Saturday night and are 4-point underdogs, according to WagerWeb.com. The Suns, meanwhile, had their 15-game winning streak snapped by the torrid Wizards, who are on an historic role offensively. Washington is 8-2 in its last 10 games and has scored at least 106 points in all of them. The Wizards are averaging a gaudy 129.2 points a game during that stretch. Their 144-139 overtime defeat of the Suns featured 54 points from guard Gilbert Arenas, who hit 21 of 37 shots from the field.
Bet on Allen Iverson at WagerWeb.com and receive 50% in sign-up bonuses! DRIBBLES: San Antonio losing by 19 points at home? That might not happen the rest of the year, but it happened against Houston on Friday night. It marked the Rockets' first win in San Antoinio in 18 games spanning nine years. The Rockets will attempt to maintain their momentum at home Saturday night against the Los Angeles Clippers. They are 7.5-point favorites, according to WagerWeb.com. The Spurs hope to rebound (literally and figuratively) in New Orleans Saturday night. WagerWeb.com lists them as 9-point favorites. … Memphis forward/center Pau Gasol is rounding back into form, but his team is still not responding. Gasol scored 28 points in a 100-97 loss to the Hornets on Friday night. The Grizzlies dropped to a league-worst 6-21. WagerWeb.com lists them as 3.5-point underdogs at home Saturday night against Utah, which was upset, 101-89, in Charlotte on Friday night. … Would would have thought New York would respond to suspensions and injuries with a three-game winning streak? The Knicks raised their record to a respectable 12-17 Friday night with a 103-92 win in cooling off the Chicago Bulls. Forward David Lee yanked down 14 rebounds to give him 53 in his last three games. New York is a 3-point underdog in Philadelphia on Saturday night, according to WagerWeb.com. The 76ers broke their 12-game losing streak with a 98-83 win Friday night in Boston, which will play without leading scorer Paul Pierce the next two weeks. … Toronto (12-15) now rests atop the woeful Atlantic Division, courtesy of a 101-100 victory at Portland on Friday night. WagerWeb.com lists the Raptors as 5-point underdogs Saturday night in Seattle, which expects explosive scorer Ray Allen to return from an ankle injury.
