J.R. Smith scored 26 points as the Denver Nuggets celebrated the completion of the Carmelo Anthony trade by whipping the Memphis Grizzlies 120-107. Denver took control midway through the first quarter, and then pounded Memphis into submission by the end of the first half with a 14-0 run led by Smith and Ty Lawson.
Grizzlies Vs. Nuggets: J.R. Smith Carried Shorthanded Denver Past Memphis
Nuggets coach George Karl had just eight players available as the New York Knicks headed to the Rocky Mountains won't be available until Wednesday. But all eight played relatively well, and the Grizzlies were flat as can be with 21 turnovers and simply awful defense.
In other action:
Pacers 113, Wizards 96: The Vogels are back! Indiana blitzed Washington behind 21 points from Danny Granger. Andray Blatche had 21 for the Wizards. Wait, is it Blatche time? This is about the time last season he picked it up. He just needs a four-month warm-up, that's all.
Rockets 108, Pistons 100: Patrick Patterson, who often plays very few minutes, saved Houston with 20 points off the bench. Only one Houston starter -- Kevin Martin -- broke 10 points (16).
Bucks 94, Timberwolves 88: Brandon Jennings might be back, ladies and gentlemen. He scored 27 and had -- not kidding -- two blocks. Kevin Love had about a perfect game with 20 points on 6-10 shooting, 17 rebounds, six assists and zero turnovers. The teams combined to shoot 38 percent.
Thunder 111, Clippers 88: Oklahoma City kicked off its post-break schedule with a vicious defeat of the Clips. Jeff Green, of all people, led OKC with 22 on 7-12 shooting. Blake Griffin had 28 and 11, and fellow rookies Eric Bledsoe and Al-Farouq Aminu had 12 each off the bench. But everyone else was pretty bad.
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