NEW ORLEANS (AP) - George Karl scanned two decades of NBA coaching memories and failed to find an instance when one of his teams played as well, from start to finish, as his Denver Nuggets did in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series against New Orleans.

But then, no one has seen a playoff whipping as bad as the Nuggets put on the Hornets in more than half a century.

Monday's games

• Hawks 81, Heat 71 (Tied 2-2)
• Nuggets 121, Hornets 63 (Nuggets 3-1)
• Lakers 107, Jazz 96 (Lakers win 4-1)

Sunday's games

• Bulls 121, Celtics 118 (2OT) (Tied 2-2)
• Cavaliers 99, Pistons 78 (Cavs win 4-0)
• Magic 84, 76ers 81 (Tied 2-2)
• Rockets 89, Blazers 88 (Rockets 3-1)

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FOXSports.com analysis

• Playoff results, schedule
• 2009 NBA Playoff Central
• Behrendt: Odom key to Lakers' win
• Rosenberg: Billups over AI for Hall
• Rosen: Rondo not quite elite PG
• Rosen: Jazz good; Lakers great
• Hench: 5 stars for future Finals

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• Monday's playoff highlights

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• Monday's action

However, while New Orleans' only win in the series was by two points, Denver's three wins have all been by double digits, including both games played in Denver.

In Game 4, Denver held New Orleans to only 31.5 percent shooting and forced the Hornets into a franchise playoff-high 27 turnovers, which led to 41 Nuggets points.

The Hornets also recorded playoff lows in points, field goals made (17), field goals attempted (54), assists (10) and second-half points (24). Denver's 121 points set a Hornets opponent playoff high.

"I don't think I've ever had a team play defense like that," Karl said. "Defensively, when you play this well, offense just happens."

Denver shot 57 percent (33-of-58) through the first three quarters, when Chauncey Billups scored all of his 17 points. Nene added 13 points and Dahntay Jones 12.

David West was the Hornets' high scorer with 14 points, while James Posey had 12.

All the starters on both teams were done when the anticlimactic final period began.

Denver dominated early for the second straight game and this time never let up. After West scored the game's opening points, Kenyon Martin dunked on the other end, igniting a 27-6 run. Denver shot 70 percent in the first quarter, taking a 36-15 lead on Jones' 3-pointer.

Denver's torrid shooting continued into the second quarter, with Anthony scoring on acrobatic drives and quick pull-up jumpers. Chris Andersen added a dunk and even a 15-foot fade, putting the Nuggets up 46-22.

New Orleans' frustration began to bubble over. Rasual Butler was called for a technical for pushing Anthony Carter after Carter fouled him on a fast break. The infuriated home crowd began to disparage the officials in unison while Anthony's technical free throw made it 49-24.

The Hornets went without a field goal for a span of 7:48 in the second quarter, scoring only on free throws until Butler's baseline jumper made it 61-39 at halftime.

Nene's inside basket as he was fouled early in the third quarter sparked an 11-0 run that included back-to-back 3s by Anthony and Billups. Martin's jumper made it 71-41 with 9:16 left in the period.

The margin only widened from there, even to the surprise of the Nuggets.

"I wouldn't have thought that we would win by 58 points," Anthony said. "I never thought anyone could win by 58 points in the playoffs."

Notes