Historic...

by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 11, 2008 12:42 AM MST

That's the only way to describe Carmelo Anthony's amazing 33-point third quarter performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight.

As we've seen during several games this season, the Nuggets got off to a sluggish start against an inferior opponent. But par for the course these days in Nuggets Nation, they were able to shake it off at halftime and pull out another win.

I've tried doing some digging online to see where Melo's 33 points in one quarter places him in NBA history. I know he tied George Gervin's record and finished one point ahead of David Thompson's franchise record, but I was hoping to find out who's third, fourth, etc and I'm coming up empty. Even NBA.com's history page on points is painfully thin on information for most points per quarter, per half, etc. (For those curious, Sleepy Floyd holds the record for most points in a playoff game quarter with 29).

I'll try to find more high scoring quarters later. In the meantime, I'm enjoying 15-7...

...and trying not to worry too much about the Nuggets being just three games ahead of ninth seeded Dallas.

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According to ESPN:

1: Melo and Gervin: 33
3. David Thompson: 32
4. Wilt Chamberlain: 31

by Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 1:09 AM MST reply actions

That was just crazy. I think that is something I will remember forever. I just remember when he started heating up something seemed special. Melo said it best when he said it was like shooting into the ocean. That is also what it felt like when I was watching him. And when I got to thinking about it, Melo is in some really good company and in a really impressive fashion. I mean, in order to score 33 points in one quarter alone you have to have something special. We all know Gervin, Thompson and of course Wilt had it but how many people out there really thought that Melo is capable of this type of stuff? I think this performance should silence a lot of Melo haters. It is obvious, the dude can play. But on a different note, 2nd in the West. Are you kidding me? Tonight was a prime example of why I love the game of basketball and sports in general.

by Goldennugget on Dec 11, 2008 1:20 AM MST reply actions

I think it's especially impressive when you consider Gervin and Thompson both got those records when they were battling for the scoring title on the last day of the season and were (presumably) hogging the ball and taking tons of shots.

Wilt's tally also came during his ridiculous 100 points game against inferior opponents.

by Brian on Dec 11, 2008 2:04 AM MST reply actions

That was incredible. Melo just couldn't miss, I was lovin it like McDonalds!! P.S I hate McDonald's.

by Jack on Dec 11, 2008 3:09 AM MST reply actions

Finding a way to win when things aren't going well. Playing through injuries (Melo). Playing with a starter on the bench.

That is what is going to keep the Nuggets going steady the rest of the season. Losing to LA and San Antonio I can tolerate. Losses to cellar-dwellers like the T-Wolves (though not to them in particular in quite sometime) are what used to make us all pull our hair out.

by JTR on Dec 11, 2008 6:13 AM MST reply actions

I hope that this signals the resurgence of Carmelo. Nobody has been complaining because the Nuggs have been winning, but Melo hasn't been putting up the offensive numbers he has in the past, the fg% in particular.

I would love for the Nuggets to keep their current chemistry and mix that with a high scoring Melo.

by Robin Z on Dec 11, 2008 7:41 AM MST reply actions

FYI, Pistons are a sub-.500 team since the trade if I'm not mistaken... or right at .500 if they won last night.

There's no way anyone aside from AI ever puts up 33 in a quarter on one of his teams... not that we should be clamoring for huge individual efforts, but you get the idea.

by Eric K on Dec 11, 2008 8:08 AM MST reply actions

I remember listening to the Nuggets / Pistons game on KOA radio when DT lit it up. DT was red hot. He certainly wasn't just hogging the ball to get points, it was just that every time he got the ball, he put it in the basket (as was Melo last night).

Interesting note to remember, there were no 3 pointers in 1978, so DT did all with 2 point field goals and free throws. I still have that game on audio tape and it was amazing. I was glad I was there to see Melo break that historic Nuggets record, but I just wish Melo could have hit 50 for the game. That would have been icing on the cake.

by Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 8:27 AM MST reply actions

Awesome performance by Melo last night. Kudos for Billups and the rest of the team for being unselfish. Go Nuggets!

by Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 8:47 AM MST reply actions

This performance was amazing on so many levels. I'm a HUGE Melo fan from his days at Syracuse & NO, I'm not surprised in the least by this effort. What I'm most happy about is that if he starts to heat up, but maintains the focus on the all-around game, then the Nuggs go to another level. With this historic outing, Melo has served notice that he can, under the right circumstances, still put up the big scoring numbers. The fact that he chooses to defer for the benefit of the team, says volume about his on-court maturity. No matter how you slice it, the Melo-haters ain't having a good time. How do you deny the greatness of this kind of performance? Easy...you don't. Bravo, Carmelo!

by KaiserSoze on Dec 11, 2008 8:57 AM MST reply actions

by KaiserSoze on Dec 11, 2008 8:58 AM MST reply actions

That third quarter was great. I was afraid Karl was going to make one of his patented coaching moves by sticking to his rotation and take Anthony out. He did similar things on several occasions last season.

Instead, he continued his coaching style of the first half by sitting on his ass and doing nothing. They were terrible in the first half, and well on their way to a loss before Anthony went crazy.

There was a post a couple of days ago giving Karl praise for his coaching. Baloney. This team wins in spite of Karl, not because of any good coaching on his part. Like when the Ravens won the Super Bowl. They won in spite of Dilfer's sub-par play at QB, not because of it. Same thing.

by KarlSucks on Dec 11, 2008 9:31 AM MST reply actions

I'm not sure we should all be so happy that it took a historic effort by Melo to beat the wolves, at home, on three days rest, just saying. K-mart or no K-mart we should have dominated that team through all 4 quarters, kudos to Melo though for pulling out the win and saving us from a very poor performance.

by Zachm219 on Dec 11, 2008 1:31 PM MST reply actions

I've gotta agree with KarlSucks, and in more ways than one! What is it with this sitting on his ass, doing nothing, while the team struggles. Who's he think he is, Phil Jackson? It's so annoying watching this guy coach. Does he even give a flyin' F?

by Anonymous on Dec 11, 2008 4:30 PM MST reply actions

So for the moment we can put Karl aside and congratulate Mello and his fine 3rd quarter performance.
Unfortunately I missed it but hell, good for Mello and the Nuggets

by markp on Dec 11, 2008 10:14 PM MST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.