Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!looking!clarinews From: clarinews@clarinet.com Newsgroups: clari.sports.basketball Subject: (Denver 123, New Jersey 112) Keywords: basketball, men's professional Message-ID: Date: 2 Feb 90 05:31:17 GMT Lines: 26 Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com ACategory: sports Slugword: bkp-nuggets Priority: regular Format: game story ANPA: Wc: 286; Id: s0188; Sel: ns--s; Adate: 2-2-1225aes Codes: yskpgxx. DENVER (UPI) -- Alex English scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half Thursday night, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 123-112 victory over the New Jersey Nets, who lost their seventh in a row. Lafayette Lever added 22 points, 13 assists and 9 rebounds for the Nuggets, who broke a two-game losing streak. Mookie Blaylock led the Nets with 24 points, despite missing 9 of his 10 first-half shots. Dennis Hopson added 23 points for the Nets, who suffered their 11th consecutive road loss. Hopson hit eight consecutive field goals in the first half, but only 2 of 10 in the second half. Charles Shackleford added 19 points, and Sam Bowie contributed 12 points and 17 rebounds for New Jersey. Denver, which led 64-56 at halftime, built the margin to 82-67 behind 8 third-quarter points from English. But a breakaway foul on Bill Hanzlik sent Lester Connor to the line to cap a 7-0 New Jersey run that trimmed the advantage to 86-78. Blair Rasmussen's jumper with 2 seconds left in the third quarter and New Jersey's inability to score for the first 3:31 of the final period allowed the Nuggets to build a 21-point lead and coast through the final six minutes. Hopson kept the Nets close in the opening period, making 5 of 6 shots from the floor on his way to 11 first-quarter points. Denver led 31-26 after one quarter. New Jersey took its first lead, 46-45, on Bowie's tip with 6:07 remaining in the first half. Todd Lichti's slam ignited the Nuggets on a 10-4 run that helped them gain an 8-point bulge at halftime.