"As far as my health, as far as my mental state, I'm ready," Anthony said of opening the season. "Everything about me. My energy. My confidence. My swagger. Everything is on another level right now."

Anthony much of the offseason in Los Angeles working with celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, who has toned bodies belonging to Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis and Jennifer Lopez. Add Anthony to the list.

Anthony dropped from 240 to 228 pounds. His body fat fell from 8.6 to seven percent.

"He's in unbelievable shape," said Nuggets strength and conditioning coach Steve Hess. "I've never seen him like this. He's leaner, harder, faster, stronger. (Anthony's) just done an unbelievable job over the summer."

In addition to his summer workouts, Anthony said he improved his diet. And it helped that he didn't play during the summer for USA Basketball for the first time since 2005.

"I got a chance to rest my body," Anthony said. "That was the most important part... I ate right. I stuck to my diet. I lifted more (than ever before)."

NUGGETS 114, JAZZ 105: The Nuggets were a bit sluggish early in the game. But not in the final three quarters.

After falling behind 30-23 after the first quarter, the Nuggets dominated the rest of the way to defeat Utah at the Pepsi Center in the season opener for both teams.

Forward Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 30 points. Guard Deron Williams had 28 points and 13 assists for Utah.

"I thought the energy of the game somewhat fatigued us early or it was the nervousness," said Nuggets coach George Karl. "But without Carmelo in the first half, we would have been out of the game."

Anthony scored 17 points in the first half. In the second half, Nuggets rookie guard Ty Lawson scored 11 of his 17 points.

"It feels good," said Lawson, who had six assists on the night. "To come out and do as well as I did, I feel really good about myself."