Minus Melo, Nuggets defeat Spurs 103-89

By Chris Dempsey
The Denver Post

SAN ANTONIO — Going back to his days with the New Jersey Nets, Kenyon Martin knows his jump shots will be open when he plays against a team coached by Gregg Popovich.

Respect only goes as far as what you believe your opponent can't do. Popovich has always backed off of Martin's jumper. Wisely, in some years. Not so wisely Sunday afternoon.

Martin made shots from all angles in the Nuggets' 103-89 win over the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center.

His game-high 27 points and 11 rebounds closed out the Nuggets' three-game trip out in style, despite playing again without Carmelo Anthony, who missed his fourth consecutive game because of a sprained ankle. The Nuggets finished 2-1 on the trip, and Sunday's win completed a sweep of the Spurs in San Antonio, the first time ever when playing two or more games there.

Before the season, Martin said he had worked with a shooting coach to improve his jump shot and was ready to take more of an aggressive scoring role. It's beginning to appear the work is paying off.

"This is definitely the best stretch he's had since I've been a Nugget," guard Chauncey Billups said of Martin. "He's just playing with so much confidence. He's picking his spots well. He's getting some opportunities to score for us, and he's knocking his shot down. A lot of times when a player picks it up offensively, his defense slacks off. But he's been just as great defensively."

Martin put the exclamation point on his best month as a Nugget, when the team went 12-3 — including winning nine of the last 10 games.

He had 10 double-doubles in 15 games. He averaged 14.9 points and 11.2 rebounds. He shot 51 percent from the field, including 4-of-8 from 3-point range.

Martin has turned nearly all of his detractors to supporters. Nearly all of the talk about him not living up to his $90 million contract is gone.

"He was incredible," Denver coach George Karl said. "It might havebeen the best game Kenyon's played for us in the time I've been here. His decisions, his efficiency, his defense, and he made shots — made big shots."

Martin is a big reason the Nuggets have been able to survive without Anthony.

"There are more opportunities there," said Martin, who hit 12-of-21 shots Sunday. "Most of the sets run through Melo, so just making plays, making myself more available. I can do it when he's there, but I'm more likely to pass it to Melo a lot of times. So I can do it when he's in the game as well, but I've been trying to be more aggressive."

Billups, Karl said, "was a stud" with 25 points, 11 assists and six rebounds against the Spurs. Arron Afflalo contributed 14 points for the Nuggets, hitting all six of his shots.

Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com

NBA Game Recap Nuggets vs. Spurs From 31.01.2010