The Denver Nuggets improved to 3-1 since the Carmelo Anthony with a 100-90 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Monday night. J.R. Smith scored 13 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. He grabbed seven rebounds, dished the ball out for three assists and blocked two shots.
Of the four players the Nuggets acquired from only two of them played in the game. Wilson Chandler started at small forward for Danilo Gallinari, who is out with 7-10 days with a fractured big toe. Chandler contributed with 15 points and five rebounds. Point guard Raymond Felton finished with 16 points, seven assists and five rebounds off the bench. Timofey Mozgov has yet to play for the Nuggets since the trade.
Kenyon Martin added a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds.
For the Hawks, Al Horford was beast around the glass, pulling down 16 rebounds. He added 21 points as well. Joe Johnson led the team with 22 points.
The Nuggets (35-26, 25-7 home) host the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m. MT.