When the Denver Nuggets traded away Carmelo Anthony half way through the 2010-11 NBA season, their future was up in the air without their true superstar. Either the young talent they acquired would develop, or it would show just how desperate the team was to move on from the “Melo Drama” that plagued their organization.
Trailing 3-1 in the series, the Denver Nuggets bounced back with two straight wins to tie their first round playoff series with the Los Angeles Lakers, setting up a pivotal Game 7 on Saturday night at the Staples Center.
Denver was supposed to be finished by now, but they marched into Staples Center on Tuesday night and stunned the Lakers 102-99.
The Los Angeles Lakers will aim to close out their first round playoff series at home with a win over the Denver Nuggets in Game 5 on Tuesday night.
The Nuggets are hoping the high altitude and some home cooking can help them get back in the series with the Lakers. Los Angeles dominated the first two games to jump out to a 2-0 lead. Denver is facing a must win game here.
The Lakers controlled Game One of this series from the early minutes of the game. Denver shot only 35% from the floor, while the Lakers shot 50%. Andrew Bynum had a rare triple-double involving blocked shots.
The Pacific Division-leading Lakers will host the seventh-place Denver Nuggets who are clinging to a 1.5 game lead over the Utah Jazz for the final playoff spot on Friday night in the City of Angles.
The Bulls will be without Derrick Rose for the 7th straight game, but even without the reigning MVP in the lineup Chicago has won 4 straight.
While the Mavs have won 3 straight games, including an impressive win over the Spurs in their last game, they have lost 7 straight on the road.
This is a match-up between two teams that both came out of the gates hot. The difference between the them now, is that one kept the streak going, while the other has not been able to maintain the success.
The injury-depleted Denver Nuggets will be aiming to string together back to back wins after three straight losses when they head to Los Angeles to take on a Clippers team that is hit and miss in their seven outings.
The Dallas Mavericks have hit a rough patch as of late, and after losing three straight, will aim to take advantage of a Denver Nuggets team that will be without forward Danilo Gallinari who is expected to miss a month with a severely sprained left ankle.
Denver is coming off a heartbreaking loss against Memphis on Tuesday night. The Nuggets led all game, only to blow it at the end of regulation and then lose in overtime.
One thing the Miami Heat will be hoping for in Denver, is that they can get the job done in just 48 minutes of basketball.
NBA news: Sides far apart with CBA set to expire;
The NBA is on the verge of its first lockout since 1998-99 Reportedly, the players and owners remain far apart in their negotiations with the current collective bargaining agreement set to expire by the end of today. Free agency won’t commence if a deal isn’t struck. 
The NBA has already cancelled the summer league in Las Vegas for this season.
Nene to opt out
Given all the rumors including his name, it’s no surprise that Nene is opting out of his contract with the Denver Nuggets. The center had one year left on his six-year, $60-million deal. He averaged 14.5 points and 7.6 rebounds last season.
Blazers make qualifying offer to Greg Oden
It appears the Portland Trail Blazers will give Greg Oden one more chance. They will extend a one-year, $8.8-million qualifying offer to the former No. 1 overall pick and oft-injured center.
That will make Oden a restricted free agent, meaning Portland can match any offer Oden receives during free agency.
Mark Cuban contributes to rapist capture reward
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is doing his part to capture whoever is responsible for beating and raping a woman following the Mavs’ NBA championship victory on June 13. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Cuban has contributed $20,000 to the reward for capturing the perpetrators.
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NBA news: Dirk Nowitzki named Finals MVP
The dust has settled from the NBA Finals, which ended with a six-game victory for the Dallas Mavericks. Not surprisingly, Dirk Nowitzki took Finals MVP honors.
