Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Chauncey Billups finished with 31 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a resounding 108-93 win over New Orleans in Game 2 of their Western Conference quarterfinal series.
Billups' performance followed a 36-point effort in Game 1, which Denver won by a 113-84 score. The Nuggets now hold a firm 2-0 lead in this best-of-seven set, which continues Saturday as the Hornets host Game 3.
Denver has its first 2-0 postseason series lead since 1985 and is halfway to winning its first playoff set since 1994. The Nuggets have made a first-round playoff exit in each of the last five seasons.
Carmelo Anthony added 22 points and nine assists for the second-seeded Nuggets, while J.R. Smith scored 15 points off the bench. The Northwest Division champs shot 50 percent from the floor, making 9-of-16 three-pointers, and excelled in every facet of the game.
Denver totaled 26 assists on its 43 field goals, and committed only six turnovers. Additionally, the Nuggets scored 23 points off 17 New Orleans turnovers in the win.
David West had 21 points and 10 rebounds to pace seventh-seeded New Orleans, which also made 9-of-16 from beyond the arc but had only 34 field goals overall. Chris Paul had 14 points and 13 assists in the loss, while Peja Stojakovic added 17 points.
