Ailing Cavaliers fall to Nuggets

1/16/2011

DENVER -- Nene scored 22 points, Chauncey Billups and Arron Afflalo each added 21 and the Denver Nuggets handed the banged-up Cleveland Cavaliers their 19th straight road loss, 127-99 Saturday night.

Carmelo Anthony, shrugging off the intensifying trade talks, finished with 12 points as the Nuggets rolled to their third straight rout.

Cleveland kept it close early, even with only eight players available due to a rash of injuries and Ryan Hollins missing the game because of a death in the family. But the Nuggets went on a 43-18 run early in the second quarter to turn the game into a blowout.

Ramon Sessions scored 21 points and Antawn Jamison added 17 for the Cavs, who dropped their 13th straight game.

Leading by 36 points late in the third quarter, the Nuggets pulled most of their starters. Reserve Al Harrington chipped in 16 points and J.R. Smith contributed 13.

The Nuggets scored a season-high 80 points in the first half, leading by 31.