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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Nuggets spoil Iverson's return


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Philadelphia's Allen Iverson had 11 points and six assists in his return to Philadelphia. Denver won, 93-83.

MATT SLOCUM | Associated Press

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PHILADELPHIA — Chauncey Billups and Denver ruined Allen Iverson's homecoming.

Billups scored 31 points and Carmelo Anthony had 14 to help the Nuggets spoil Iverson's return to Philadelphia with a 93-83 win over the 76ers last night.

"I just felt like I was back home," Iverson said. "It was deja vu. Just a real good feeling. The fans made it hard on me because they made me more nervous than I already was."

Iverson's old team improved to 16-5; his new-again team fell to 5-16.

"It was a positive experience to be part of A.I. returning," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I thought he fatigued as the game went on and we got the benefit of it. He's not in the best of shape yet."

The Nuggets went on a 22-3 run over the third and fourth quarters to rally for their fourth straight win.

Iverson's rousing return did little to mask the fact that the Sixers are a lousy team. They've lost 10 straight, and only one-win New Jersey has a worse record in the Eastern Conference.

Iverson received a standing ovation when he left in the fourth quarter. He scored 11 points on 4-for-11 shooting and had six assists.

"I had chill-bumps running all through my body the whole game," Iverson said. "It just felt good to be back."

Iverson bowed and kissed the logo at midcourt when he was introduced as the sellout crowd of 20,664 roared.

Knicks 93, Trail Blazers 84: Larry Hughes scored 21 points, David Lee had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and host New York won its season-high third straight.

Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler each added 14 points as the Knicks won for the fourth time in five games.

Brandon Roy scored 27 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the injury-depleted Trail Blazers, who lost center Greg Oden to season-ending knee surgery Sunday.

Thunder 104, Warriors 88: Kevin Durant scored 28 points, rookie James Harden added a career-high 26 and host Oklahoma City capitalized on the ejection of Golden State's Corey Maggette.

The Thunder led by one when Maggette drew two technical fouls for arguing with official Derek Richardson late in the third quarter. Between Maggette's ejection and the end of the third quarter, the Thunder outscored Golden State 16-5.

Monta Ellis led the Warriors with 31 points but committed nine turnovers.

Jazz 104, Spurs 101: Deron Williams recovered after missing his first six shots and scored 17 points, including a go-ahead jumper with 22 seconds left, to lift host Utah over San Antonio.

Williams added 11 assists and Carlos Boozer had 27 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Jazz, who guaranteed their first series win over the Spurs in 12 years with their third win over San Antonio this season.

Matt Bonner scored a career-high 28 for the Spurs.

NOTES

Knicks: Two people with knowledge of the team's plans say the New York Knicks will travel to Italy next fall and play at least one exhibition game in Milan.

The two people are unsure how many games, or against which opponents, the Knicks would play. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the league has not made an official announcement.

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