Nuggets' effort earns Karl's salute despite loss

SALT LAKE CITY — As Nuggets guard Anthony Carter soared for a baseline dunk in the fourth quarter Saturday night, one wondered what was more improbable:

That Carter soared for a baseline dunk?

That Carter was on the court with Johan Petro, Malik Allen, J.R. Smith and Joey Graham in the fourth quarter?

Or that Carter's dunk cut the Utah Jazz's lead, once 18 points in the third quarter, to three?

Beleaguered and banged up, the Nuggets indeed hung around. But the Jazz pulled away for a 116-106 victory, its lone win against the Nuggets this season.

"After the way we started in the first quarter, a lot of teams could have thrown it in and collapsed," said Nuggets coach George Karl, whose team beat the Lakers 126-113 in Los Angeles the night before. "We kept fighting and fighting."

Denver couldn't duplicate the improbable. On Jan. 2, the Nuggets (34-17) won at Utah (31-18) and did so without Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups. Anthony (left ankle) and Billups (right ankle) sat out again Saturday, Anthony missing his seventh consecutive game and Billups resting because of an injury suffered the night before during his torrid third quarter against the Lakers.

As for Melo, Karl said he has spoken numerous times with the all-star forward and they're shooting for Melo's return Tuesday night against Dallas.

"His workouts are getting more 100 percent game-like performances, and I know he wants to get back on the court," Karl said. "I would think Tuesday is a positive date, but we've said that before."

Billups played on his sore right ankle Friday (as well as on his aggravated left ankle), but by Saturday it was in bad shape.

"I'm going to get treatments, rest it as well, try to get ready for the next game," Billups said.

Chris Andersen (15 points) aggravated his knee Saturday. Arron Afflalo (1-for-9 shooting) hurt his ankle and Nene (20 minutes played) hurt a muscle in his left foot.

But Karl wasn't under the impression any of those injuries were serious.

"I'm hoping everybody's healthy on Tuesday," the coach said.

Entering Saturday, not only were Utah and Denver two of the hotter teams in the Northwest Division, but in the Western Conference too — both went 12-3 in the previous 15 games. And while Portland and Oklahoma City have dropped off, Utah is still hanging around in the division hunt, two games behind the Nuggets (who have the season tiebreaker, 3-1). But the Jazz plays five of its next seven games on the road, and the two at home are against the Lakers and Atlanta.

In the Jan. 2 win over the Jazz, rookie point guard Ty Lawson had arguably his best game in the NBA, scoring 23 points, adding nine assists and three steals. He scored a game-high 25 points Saturday, as well as contributing four assists. Karl described Lawson's night as "a good game. He didn't have a great game."

While Lawson is more of a slasher than a passer, the fact is, Denver's offense suffered without Billups at the point. The Nuggets finished with just 14 assists and committed 20 turnovers.