경기결과 [Review] RS 66/66, @ Minnesota → Nuggets Clinch 6th Seed(H/L)

[Colorado-Denver]

(38-28, Northwest 2위) 131-102 (26-40, Northwest 5위) → Nuggets 3-1(END)

http://www.nba.com/games/20120426/DENMIN/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021100987

Nuggets beat Wolves to lock down 6th seed in West

너게츠가 울브스 제압하고 서부 6번 시드 확정!

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -

The Denver Nuggets earned themselves another postseason date with the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are going home for another long summer and Brad Miller is going home for good.

JaVale McGee scored 19 points to help the Nuggets lock down the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoffs with a 131-102 victory over the Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Arron Afflalo scored 18 points and Danilo Gallinari had 17 points for the Nuggets, who won their fourth straight game and eighth in their last 10 as they surge into the postseason. Game 1 is Sunday at Staples Center.

"I'm just excited about being in the playoffs and I plan on playing as hard as I have since I've been in Denver," McGee said. "As long as we go out and play like we have been playing, we should be fine."

The Nuggets entered the game needing a win or a loss by Dallas in Atlanta to lock down the No. 6 seed in the West. Had they lost and Dallas won in Atlanta, the Nuggets would have faced No. 2 seed Oklahoma City in the first round.

It's not immediately clear if getting the sixth seed was a good thing for Denver. The Nuggets lost three of their four meetings with the Lakers this season and have never beaten them in six previous playoff series, the last one being a loss in the 2009 Western Conference finals.

"It's good and bad," coach George Karl said. "It's good that we did what we wanted to do from a standpoint of playing the right way and playing the season out hard. You get to play a championship caliber team and they have the home court."

Denver does seem to be playing some of its best basketball after a rough couple of weeks integrating McGee in the trade that sent longtime center Nene to Washington. The super-athletic McGee has scored in double figures in the last four games and his 19 points on Thursday night were his most in a Nuggets uniform.

"Where we were when we made the trade in the first week in March, to get to this point, I think it's a pretty spectacular performance from our guys," Karl said.

Nikola Pekovic had 18 points and 10 rebounds and J.J. Barea had 20 points and five assists for the Timberwolves, who will miss the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season. The Wolves lost 13 of their last 14 games of the season.

The only bright spot in a terrible performance that included allowing 80 points in the paint to Denver was an emotional farewell for Miller, the crusty veteran center who is retiring after 14 years in the league. He scored four points with four rebounds and four assists and broke down on the bench after receiving a standing ovation when he left the game with five minutes to play.

He had to compose himself when talking about what coach Rick Adelman has meant to him over the years in stops with Sacramento, Houston and Minnesota.

"No, I've always been the tough guy," Miller said when asked if expected to be this emotional. "I had a couple friends that came into town. ... I've been all cool all day and coming out, it really hit me hard."

The outcome on Thursday night wasn't in doubt for very long. Karl rested forward Al Harrington, who has a strained right knee. But he played all the other regulars in their final tuneup, and the Nuggets were off and running from the start.

They outscored the Timberwolves 16-4 to start the second quarter, opening up a 45-29 lead that was never really threatened. Denver shot 63 percent and outrebounded the Wolves 48-29.

Adelman has been very unhappy with how his young team has responded to a rash of injuries to starters Ricky Rubio (knee), Kevin Love (concussion) and Luke Ridnour (ankle). Adelman went through a similar situation in Houston when stars Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming were lost.

Most of the Wolves wore headbands in warmups and in the game, a tribute to Miller. But that was about all the interest they showed in being on the floor on Thursday night.

Miller air-balled two shots in the first quarter and had an ugly turnover, but he did hit a 3-pointer in the fourth and got a hearty cheer from the sparse home crowd.

Adelman wished the Wolves could have sent one of his favorite players out on a better note.

"A lot of people made a statement in that game that they were done playing and the season wasn't over yet," Adelman said. "I don't understand the attitude. I don't understand why you would approach any job that way. Some guys made a big statement tonight."

NOTES: Love sat courtside for some guest color commentary with Fox Sports North in the second quarter. ... The Wolves finished with a record of 26-40, their most victories since 2006-07 and best winning percentage since 2005-06. ... Kenneth Faried had 15 points and seven rebounds and Kosta Koufos had 11 boards for the Nuggets.

Denver Nuggets(38-28, 29-32-32-38/131)

T. 로슨-A. 아프랄로-D. 갈리나리-K. 페리드-K. 쿠포스

[A. 밀러-A. 아프랄로-C. 브루어-J. 맥기-K. 쿠포스]

[T. 로슨-A. 아프랄로-D. 갈리나리-K. 페리드-K. 쿠포스]

[A. 밀러-J. 해밀턴-C. 브루어-J. 맥기-K. 쿠포스]

저베일 맥기(18:12) - 19(9/12, FT: 1/1)-5(0/5)-1BS-1TO-4PF

아론 아프랄로(29:30) - 18(7/12, 3/3, 1/1)-4(1/3)-1A-1ST-2TO-1PF

다닐로 갈리나리(27) - 17(5/7, FT: 7/8)-3(0/3)-4A-1ST-1BS

타이 로슨(25:28) - 15(7/10, 1/3, 0/1)-4(2/2)-4A-2ST

케네스 페리드(31:42) - 15(7/13, FT: 1/2)-7(5/2)-3A-3TO-5PF

티모피 모즈고브(12:56) - 15(7/8, FT: 1/1)-4(1/3)-1ST-2BS-4TO-4PF

코리 브루어(27:52) - 12(5/10, 1/1, 1/2)-1(0/1)-3A-1ST-1TO-2PF

조던 해밀턴(12) - 8(4/7, 3P: 0/1)-5(1/4)-2A-1TO

코스타 쿠포스(26:18) - 7(3/5, FT: 1/2)-11(2/9)-1ST-4PF

안드레 밀러(20:35) - 5(2/5, 0/2, 1/2)-3(0/3)-10A-1ST-4TO-2PF

줄리얀 스톤(8:27) - 1(0/1)-3A-1ST

* FG: 56/89(62.9%)-3P: 5/10(50%)-FT: 14/20(70%)-48(12/36)-30A-9ST-4BS-16TO-22F(팀리바운드 8, 총 실책 16, 속공 점수 15, 페인트존 점수 80)

Minnesota Timberwolves(26-40, 25-17-27-33/102)

J. 바레아-M. 웹스터-W. 존슨-A. 랜돌프-N. 페코비치

[W. 엘링턴-M. 리-M. 비즐리-D. 윌리엄스-B. 밀러]

[J. 바레아-M. 웹스터-W. 존슨-A. 랜돌프-N. 페코비치]

[W. 엘링턴-M. 리-A. 톨리버-M. 비즐리-B. 밀러]

호세 바레아(30:55) - 20(7/13, 3/6, 3/4)-1(0/1)-5A-4TO-1PF → TF(2Q)

니콜라 페코비치(25:29) - 18(8/12, FT: 2/5)-10(5/5)-1ST-1BS-2PF

마이클 비즐리(23:37) - 13(5/12, 0/2, 3/4)-1(0/1)-1A-4TO-2PF

웨인 엘링턴(22:36) - 12(5/12, 3P: 2/5)-2(0/2)-1A-1ST-3PF

마텔 웹스터(27:54) - 11(5/10, 3P: 1/4)-1(0/1)-3A-2TO-1PF

앤써니 랜돌프(20:51) - 9(4/9, FT: 1/2)-2(0/2)-3A-1BS-1TO

웨슬리 존슨(18:42) - 6(2/3, 3P: 2/2)-2A-2BS-1PF

브래드 밀러(17:22) - 4(1/3, 1/2, 1/2)-4(0/4)-4A-2ST-2TO-1PF

데릭 윌리엄스(15:26) - 4(1/5, 0/2, 2/2)-2(0/2)-1ST

앤써니 톨리버(16:52) - 3(1/4, 3P: 1/3)-4(1/3)-1A-2PF

말콤 리(20:16) - 2(1/6, 3P: 0/1)-2(2/0)-2A-1PF

* FG: 40/89(44.9%)-3P: 10/27(37%)-FT: 12/19(63.2%)-29(8/21)-22A-5ST-4BS-13TO-14F(팀리바운드 10, 총 실책 13, 속공 점수 10, 페인트존 점수 48)

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/teams/den

호세 바레아(Minnesota #11)와 저베일 맥기(Denver #34)

앤써니 랜돌프(Minnesota #15)와 다닐로 갈리나리(Denver #8), 안드레 밀러(Denver #24), 저베일 맥기

마이클 비즐리(Minnesota #8)와 아론 아프랄로(Denver #6)

안드레 밀러와 호세 바레아

다닐로 갈리나리, 코스타 쿠포스(Denver #41)와 니콜라 페코비치(Minnesota #14)

다닐로 갈리나리와 앤써니 톨리버(Minnesota #44), 웨슬리 존슨(Minnesota #4)

호세 바레아와 케네스 페리드(Denver #35, R), 다닐로 갈리나리

코리 브루어(Denver #13)와 앤써니 톨리버, 브래드 밀러(Minnesota #52)

티모피 모즈고브(Denver #25)

브래드 밀러, 니콜라 페코비치

니콜라 페코비치와 코스타 쿠포스

릭 아델만 Minnesota Timberwolves 감독

조지 칼 Denver Nuggets 감독, 멜빈 헌트 Denver Nuggets 코치, 채드 이스키 Denver Nuggets 코치, 조던 해밀턴(Denver #1, R), 다닐로 갈리나리

* Next Game: PS Western Conference Quarterfinals Game 1, @ Los Angeles Lakers: 한국시간 2012.4.30(月), 새벽 4시 30분!