Cavs continue losing ways in beatdown

DENVER

Nene scored 22 points, Chauncey Billups and Arron Afflalo each added 21 and the Denver Nuggets handed the banged-up Cleveland Cavaliers their 19th straight road loss, 127-99 on Saturday night.

Carmelo Anthony, shrugging off the intensifying trade talks, finished with 12 points as the Nuggets rolled to their third straight rout.

Cleveland kept it close early, even with only eight players available due to a rash of injuries and Ryan Hollins missing the game because of a death in the family. But the Nuggets went on a 43-18 run early in the second quarter to turn the game into a blowout.

Ramon Sessions scored 21 points and Antawn Jamison added 17 for the Cavs, who dropped their 13th straight game.

Leading by 36 points late in the third quarter, the Nuggets pulled most of their starters. Reserve Al Harrington chipped in 16 points and J.R. Smith contributed 13.

Cavs coach Byron Scott said before the game he had never guided a team with so few players on the bench.

Alonzo Gee logged the most minutes, playing more than 40 with no one really to spell him. The team also lost Mo Williams in the first quarter when went out with a left hip flexor strain.

That was on top of already being without Daniel Gibson (ankle), Anthony Parker (lower back), Anderson Varejao (ankle/foot), Joey Graham (quad), Leon Powe (knee) and Christian Eyenga (ankle).