In the Nuggets' biggest playoff game in 15 years, their biggest stars had the kind of first half that in past years would have buried them in a hole they couldn't dig out of.
Chauncey Billups had one field goal. That was one more than Carmelo Anthony, who took one more shot in the first half than coach George Karl did. Four starters combined for four baskets. Yet the Nuggets led at halftime 51-47.
How? Why? Largely because of a cornrowed Brazilian center who played like he has a new lease on life. Considering that Nene is playing this season cancer-free, he really does.
His 14 points in the second quarter Sunday offset the Dallas Mavericks' eye-popping shooting from their front line. Then the Nuggets' defense kicked in, as it usually does in the second half, and the 109-95 rout was on.
"We thought Nene had an opportunity to have a big game, but we never thought we would get 18 (first-half points) out of him," Karl said. "But with Melo in foul trouble, and us kind of searching for an offensive confidence, we kind of got that from Nene. The balance of our team has kind of quietly been a strength of who we are."
Nene scored a career playoff-high 24 points and also contributed five assists, but it was his second quarter, when he turned into Dwight Howard, that the rocking Pepsi Center crowd will remember most.
And so will the Mavericks.
"Nene was phenomenal running the floor," said Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki.
Denver trailed 26-21 in the second quarter when Nene took off. He slammed four dunks - two off the break - a jumper and a backdoor
layup in a 6:18 span for a 39-36 lead, consistently beating the Mavs' Erick Dampier down the floor.
"We have 12 players," Nene said. "If they don't do good, someone else will do good."
Nene wasn't just a safety valve. The Nuggets did have him in their offensive game plan, knowing that in the regular-season matchups, Dampier looked a furlong slower than Nene. Add a sprained ankle to Dampier's 33 years, to go along with 265 pounds, and you have a mismatch made in sky-blue heaven this series.
"I told Nene that he should be getting a lot of touches, especially with their bigs and the way they guard him," said his backup, Chris Ander-
sen. "I basically told him that there's nobody that can guard him."
Added guard Anthony Carter: "Nene is so big and so quick. His first two shots I think were jump shots. We told him you have to attack. He did that, ran the floor and got layups."
On a team that's on its best defensive run in its history, and with offensive options all over the floor, Nene's production is a pleasant surprise. He led the Nuggets in scoring only six times all season, the last time March 16 when he scored 19 vs. New Jersey.
"We just used our advantage," Nene said. "We know they're a great shooting team. We're a great power team."
If this is a dream season for the Nuggets and their fans, it also is for Nene, who won his battle against testicular cancer a year ago.
"That is very satisfying," Nene said. "After what I passed, I feel great. I feel the sky."
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
