No longer is the "Birdman" grounded. Nuggets big man Chris Andersen, who finished second last season in the NBA in blocked shots, hasn't looked like the same player at times this season. But he sure looked good in Tuesday's 135-107 rout of Golden State at the Pepsi Center. Andersen blocked a season-high five shots while grabbing eight rebounds and scoring 14 points. Andersen hadn't blocked more than three shots in any previous game this season. His 1.56 blocks average entering the game was well down from his 2.46 last season.
"I think he moved up the list of scouting report priority," Nuggets coach George Karl said of more attention surrounding Andersen this season. "I think people were kind of talking about how to maybe be more physical and to hide out more on the strong side instead of the weak side."
Karl, who said Andersen had his best game of the season Tuesday, also noted that Andersen has been bothered at times this season by a sore knee and recently had a cold.
"When you have a year like he did last year, the scouting report changes on you a little bit," guard Chauncey Billups said of some of Andersen's statistics being down. "It's not because of a lack of effort by Bird."
Billups lauded Andersen, who raised his averages on the season to 6.4 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.76 blocks.
"Everybody knows that we a lot of times feed off Birdman's energy," Billups said. "It was good to see him out there energized and running all over the place and blocking shots. That's the Bird we're accustomed to."
NUGGETS 135, WARRIORS 107: The Nuggets bounced back in a big way from their most humiliating defeat in quite awhile. Denver walloped Golden State on Tuesday at the Pepsi Center two nights after a 106-100 home loss to Minnesota, which came in 1-15.
It took awhile for the Nuggets to get going as they fell behind by eight points in the first quarter. But once they got untracked it was over in a hurry. After trailing 28-25 at the end of the first quarter, the Nuggets outscored Golden State 82-56 in the middle two quarters.
The Nuggets got 25 points from forward Carmelo Anthony. Guard Chauncey Billups added 22.
"I think (it's) a lesson put behind us," coach George Karl said about making up for the loss to the Timberwolves. "We're OK. December's here. And let's worry about December and forget Minnesota."
The Warriors got a game-high 27 points from forward Anthony Morrow. Guard Monta Ellis, who scored 45 points Monday against Indiana, was held in check and scored just 15.
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