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Lakers defeat Nuggets 99-97 in overtime
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-03 20:50
Nuggets can't hit the 3 in two losses
DENVER - Two games. Two losses. Two 3-pointers. The Denver Nuggets are off to
a bad start this year for much the same reason they had trouble in the playoffs
last season. They can't hit the 3.
When George Karl returns from his suspension to coach Denver on Friday, he'll
reconnect with a team that has started 2-for-19 from 3-point range and hasn't
gotten a single 3 from Voshon Lenard, supposedly the team's best outside
shooter.
In a 99-97 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday, the Nuggets
shot 2-for-12 from 3-point range and made none after Earl Boykins' shot with
11:22 left in the second quarter.
In their opening-night 102-91 loss to the Spurs, Denver got outscored 12-0
from behind the 3-point line. That probably felt familiar. San Antonio outscored
Denver 105-33 from 3-point range in last year's 4-1 first-round playoff series
victory.
Karl gave the team off Thursday and no Nuggets were available for interviews.
But in the preseason, the coach said he was sure Lenard, who missed most of last
season with a torn Achilles' tendon, would be the answer to Denver's 3-point
shooting woes.
"And as fast as we play, the 3-ball should come open a lot more as we push
the ball," Karl said.
So far, though, the Nuggets aren't running and moving the ball the way they
did when they were clicking during last season's 32-8 regular-season finish.
They haven't broken 100 points yet and, aside from a couple of brief flurries
in the first half against Los Angeles, easy baskets created by pushing the ball
haven't been available.
Nuggets' Miller arrested on warrant
Pacers to retire Miller's No. 31 in March
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