Nuggets send Bobcats to 15th straight loss

 
No Author Published: December 22, 2012    Comment on this article Leave a comment

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Nuggets' inside game was at its best on Saturday night.

Kosta Koufos scored a season-high 16 points, and Kenneth Faried and Andre Iguodala added 15 points apiece as the Nuggets beat Charlotte 110-88 and sent the Bobcats to their 15th consecutive loss.

photo - Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens reacts injuring his leg while contesting a shot against the Denver Nuggets late in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 110-88 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. Mullens was helped off the court by teammates. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Charlotte Bobcats center Byron Mullens reacts injuring his leg while contesting a shot against the Denver Nuggets late in the fourth quarter of the Nuggets' 110-88 victory in an NBA basketball game in Denver, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012. Mullens was helped off the court by teammates. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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JaVale McGee added 14 points, and Danilo Gallinari had 12 for Denver, which won its sixth in a row at home behind a fast-paced offense fueled by 36 assists and 78 points in the paint, both season highs.

"We moved the ball very well," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "We were unselfish from the beginning, and the defense got us in the open court."

Koufos (8 of 10), McGee (7 of 8), Faried (6 of 10), and Iguodala (6 of 9) were a combined 27 of 37 from the floor. They took feeds from teammates, finished fastbreaks, and put up high-percentage shots primarily from up close.

"It was because of the guards," Koufos said. "They drove into the lane and established themselves very well. They just dumped it off when we were there. I just played within the system, continued to play hard every possession. When the ball comes to me, I just try to finish. If not, do other things defensively."

Charlotte, playing the second of a back-to-back set on the road, was without injured guards Gerald Henderson and Ben Gordon. Henderson sustained a bruised shin during the second half of a 115-100 loss at Golden State on Friday. Gordon missed a second consecutive game because of soreness in his right knee.

Ramon Sessions had 23 points to lead Charlotte. Byron Mullens added 16 before he went down with a left ankle sprain in the final moments after getting his feet tangled in traffic near the basket.

"It was a tough one for us," said Kemba Walker, who had eight points for the Bobcats. "We've had four games in five nights. We struggled with energy. We just needed a little bit of energy tonight, but we really couldn't find a rhythm. They played tough. They played well."

Walker said the Bobcats are hurt by inexperience.

"We're a young team," he said. "We've got a few vets, but our core group is really young. Losing is one of the hardest things you can ever go through, especially losing as many as we've lost. But at the same time, you've got to keep your chin up. You've got to know that these losses will turn into wins one day."

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