Basketball: Denver open Western Conference second round with win
Posted: 04 May 2009 0710 hrs

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DENVER, Colorado: The Denver Nuggets opened the second round of the National Basketball Association playoffs on Sunday with an emphatic 109-95 victory over the Dallas Mavericks.

Denver's Brazilian forward Nene scored 18 of his career playoff-high 24 points in the first half as Denver took a 51-47 halftime lead.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points, including a dunk off a behind-the-back pass from J.R. Smith that roused the Denver fans in the waning minutes as the Nuggets took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference semi-final series.

Dirk Nowitzki led Dallas with 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Josh Howard, Jason Kidd and Jason Terry scored 15 points apiece.

The Nuggets host game two on Tuesday, hoping to extend their home winning streak to 14 games, including four in the postseason.

Denver appeared poised to run away with it in the third period, as their defence manufactured several fast-break baskets.

However, the Mavericks were energised by Antoine Wright's three-pointer and pulled within 82-80 early in the fourth after Terry made a three-pointer and Nowitzki nailed a jump shot.

Denver responded with a 15-4 scoring run that put the Mavericks away. Chauncey Billups was effective on both ends of the floor as Denver's ability to block shots led to fast-break points and long-range shots that demoralised Dallas.

The first half was marked by aggressive play, with Denver's Kenyon Martin throwing Nowitzki to the floor.

Howard, who spent significant time on the sidelines during the regular season because of a left ankle injury, twisted his right ankle in the first half when he got entangled with Billups. He went to the locker room, but was back before halftime. - AFP/de