--F Carmelo Anthony is slowing down a bit. After averaging 37.7 points in Denver's first three games and being named Western Conference Player of the Week, Anthony has averaged 25.4 points in his last five games. It's understandable that there would be a drop. After his hot start, teams have been keying on Anthony. And all of his last five games have been on the road after two of the first three were at home.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "We've talked about missing that second free throw. It's a perfect situation with five-tenths, it's imperfect at six or seven." -- Nuggets coach George Karl, on the decision for guard Chauncey Billlups to miss a free throw with six-tenths of a second left after Billups had just put the Nuggets up 90-89 by making the first. After Chicago inbounded the ball with three-tenths of a second left, a long shot by Brad Miller that went in was ruled to have come after the buzzer.