Carmelo Anthony scored a career playoff-high 42 points as Denver ran wounded Utah out of the gym to capture game 1. The Jazz played without Andrei Kirilenko and lost Mehmet Okur to an apparent achilles injury in the first half.
J.R. Smith changed his shoes at least three times during the game, and finally got it going in the fourth quarter help the Nuggs pull away from the pesky Jazz. Smith scored 17 of his 19 points in the fourth, hitting back-to-back-to-back 3’s to blow the game open.
Deron Williams finished with 26 points and 11 assists to lead Utah. Okur’s status for Game 2 Monday night in Denver is unknown. He is slated to undergo an MRI Sunday.
To The Tin 