168 Points in 48 Minutes
On March 16, 2008, the Denver Nuggets produced one of the
greatest offensive performances in NBA history, defeating the
Seattle SuperSonics 168-116 at the Pepsi Center in Denver.
The remarkable part was that Denver needed only the standard
48 minutes to score 168 points. The Nuggets scored at least
36 points in every quarter, including 48 in the opening period
and 43 in the third.
Denver finished the game shooting 61-of-101 from the field,
a remarkable 60.4 percent. The Nuggets were even more
efficient from long range, making 16 of 31 three-point
attempts for 51.6 percent, while converting 30 of 35 free
throws.
The Nuggets also recorded 44 assists on their 61 made field
goals. Eight Denver players scored in double figures, and
every player who appeared in the game scored at least one
point.
Game Information
| Date |
Matchup |
Location |
Final Score |
Margin |
| March 16, 2008 |
Seattle SuperSonics at Denver Nuggets |
Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado |
Denver 168, Seattle 116 |
52 points |
Scoring by Quarter
| Team |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Seattle SuperSonics |
29 |
29 |
27 |
31 |
116 |
| Denver Nuggets |
48 |
36 |
43 |
41 |
168 |
Halftime: Denver 84, Seattle 58
Second half: Denver 84, Seattle 58
Denver first half: 84 points
Denver second half: 84 points
Final margin: 52 points
Seattle SuperSonics Box Score
| Player |
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
+/- |
OFF |
REB |
AST |
TO |
STL |
BLK |
PF |
PTS |
| Kevin Durant |
27:16 |
8-12 |
0-0 |
7-9 |
-33 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
23 |
| Earl Watson |
27:11 |
6-11 |
0-0 |
2-2 |
-27 |
0 |
2 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
14 |
| Johan Petro |
21:24 |
7-14 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
-18 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
14 |
| Jeff Green |
30:02 |
4-12 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
-24 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
| Chris Wilcox |
24:08 |
7-12 |
0-0 |
3-7 |
-20 |
6 |
12 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
17 |
| Nick Collison |
22:17 |
1-7 |
0-0 |
1-2 |
-31 |
4 |
9 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
| Damien Wilkins |
21:01 |
2-11 |
0-1 |
0-0 |
-30 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
| Mickael Gelabale |
20:44 |
6-12 |
2-6 |
2-4 |
-19 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
16 |
| Donyell Marshall |
16:11 |
0-4 |
0-3 |
0-0 |
-25 |
1 |
5 |
1 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Luke Ridnour |
11:52 |
0-4 |
0-0 |
4-4 |
-17 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
| Mouhamed Sene |
8:57 |
2-3 |
0-0 |
3-4 |
-8 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
7 |
| Mike Wilks |
8:57 |
3-5 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
-8 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
| Team Totals |
240 |
46-107 |
2-10 |
22-32 |
|
18 |
45 |
28 |
16 |
12 |
8 |
24 |
116 |
Seattle shooting: 43.0% FG, 20.0% 3PT,
68.8% FT. Team rebounds: 9.
Denver Nuggets Box Score
| Player |
MIN |
FG |
3PT |
FT |
+/- |
OFF |
REB |
AST |
TO |
STL |
BLK |
PF |
PTS |
| Allen Iverson |
27:12 |
8-14 |
0-0 |
8-8 |
+40 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
24 |
| Anthony Carter |
24:47 |
2-3 |
1-1 |
3-4 |
+34 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
| Marcus Camby |
26:35 |
4-6 |
0-0 |
5-5 |
+39 |
0 |
15 |
10 |
4 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
13 |
| Carmelo Anthony |
26:10 |
10-17 |
0-1 |
6-8 |
+36 |
0 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
26 |
| Kenyon Martin |
25:32 |
11-13 |
1-1 |
0-1 |
+34 |
1 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
23 |
| Linas Kleiza |
25:23 |
6-11 |
1-3 |
4-4 |
+13 |
2 |
5 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
17 |
| J.R. Smith |
21:24 |
7-15 |
4-10 |
1-1 |
+13 |
1 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
19 |
| Chucky Atkins |
20:13 |
7-10 |
5-8 |
0-0 |
+13 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
3 |
19 |
| Eduardo Najera |
16:09 |
0-3 |
0-1 |
1-2 |
+15 |
1 |
6 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Yakhouba Diawara |
12:31 |
3-5 |
3-5 |
2-2 |
+12 |
2 |
5 |
3 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
11 |
| Steven Hunter |
8:30 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
+6 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
| Taurean Green |
5:31 |
2-2 |
1-1 |
0-0 |
+5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
| Team Totals |
240 |
61-101 |
16-31 |
30-35 |
|
8 |
51 |
44 |
14 |
12 |
10 |
19 |
168 |
Denver shooting: 60.4% FG, 51.6% 3PT,
85.7% FT. Team rebounds: 11.
Denver's Offensive Numbers
| Category |
Denver |
| Points |
168 |
| Field Goals |
61-101 |
| Field-Goal Percentage |
60.4% |
| Three-Pointers |
16-31 |
| Three-Point Percentage |
51.6% |
| Free Throws |
30-35 |
| Free-Throw Percentage |
85.7% |
| Assists |
44 |
| Rebounds |
51 |
| Steals |
12 |
| Blocks |
10 |
| Turnovers |
14 |
84 Points in Each Half
Denver's scoring was remarkably consistent. The Nuggets
scored 48 points in the first quarter and 36 in the second
for exactly 84 points before halftime.
Instead of slowing down with the game already under control,
Denver scored another 43 points in the third quarter and
41 in the fourth. That produced another 84-point half and
the final total of 168.
The Nuggets therefore averaged 42 points per quarter for the
entire game. Their lowest-scoring period was the second
quarter, when they scored "only" 36.
Denver's 84-point second half also tied the franchise mark
listed among the Nuggets' highest-scoring halves.
Eight Nuggets in Double Figures
Denver did not need a huge scoring night from a single player
to reach 168. Instead, the offense was spread throughout the
rotation.
Carmelo Anthony led the Nuggets with 26 points in only
26:10. Allen Iverson added 24 points in 27:12, while Kenyon
Martin scored 23 on an exceptionally efficient 11-of-13
shooting.
J.R. Smith and Chucky Atkins each scored 19 points off the
bench. Linas Kleiza added 17 and Yakhouba Diawara scored 11.
Marcus Camby's 13 points made him the eighth Denver player
to reach double figures.
The Nuggets' starters combined for 94 points despite none
playing as many as 28 minutes.
Marcus Camby's Triple-Double
Amid all the scoring, Marcus Camby produced perhaps the most
complete individual performance of the game. In only 26:35,
Camby recorded 13 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists for a
triple-double.
Camby shot 4-of-6 from the field and 5-of-5 at the free-throw
line. He also added 4 blocked shots and a steal, giving him
significant production in nearly every major statistical
category.
His 10 assists were particularly notable for a center and
helped Denver finish with 44 assists as a team.
Denver Could Not Miss
The Nuggets' 60.4 percent field-goal shooting would have been
impressive on its own, but their three-point shooting made
the offensive performance even more overwhelming.
Denver made 16 of 31 shots from beyond the arc. Chucky Atkins
made five three-pointers, J.R. Smith made four and Yakhouba
Diawara made three. Anthony Carter, Kenyon Martin, Linas
Kleiza and Taurean Green also connected from long range.
Denver then converted 30 of 35 free throws, meaning the
Nuggets shot better than 60 percent from the field, better
than 50 percent from three and better than 85 percent from
the foul line in the same game.
Kevin Durant Leads Seattle
Seattle scored 116 points, a respectable offensive total
that was completely overshadowed by Denver's historic night.
Rookie Kevin Durant led the SuperSonics with 23 points in
27:16, shooting 8-of-12 from the field and 7-of-9 from the
free-throw line.
Chris Wilcox added 17 points and 12 rebounds, while Mickael
Gelabale scored 16 off the bench. Earl Watson and Johan
Petro each scored 14.
The SuperSonics shot 43.0 percent overall but made only two
three-pointers. Seattle was outscored by 52 points despite
scoring at least 27 points in every quarter.
Franchise Record in Regulation
The 168 points established Denver's franchise record for a
game completed in regulation. The only Nuggets game with a
higher team total was the famous 186-184 triple-overtime
loss to the Detroit Pistons on December 13, 1983, when
Denver scored 184.
Denver's previous regulation high was 163 points in a
163-155 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on January 11,
1984. The Nuggets surpassed that total by five points
against Seattle.
Unlike the 1983 Detroit game, no overtime periods were needed.
Denver accumulated all 168 points during the standard
48 minutes.
A 52-Point Blowout
The game was not simply historic because Denver scored 168.
The Nuggets also won by 52 points.
Denver established control immediately by scoring 48 points
in the first quarter and taking a 48-29 lead. The advantage
grew to 84-58 by halftime and 127-85 through three quarters.
The Nuggets never eased off offensively, adding another
41 points during the fourth quarter to complete the
168-116 victory.
Game Details
Date: March 16, 2008
Final Score: Denver Nuggets 168, Seattle SuperSonics 116
Arena: Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado
Margin: Denver by 52
Denver: 61-of-101 FG, 16-of-31 3PT,
30-of-35 FT, 51 rebounds, 44 assists, 12 steals and
10 blocks.
Leading scorer: Carmelo Anthony — 26 points
Allen Iverson: 24 points, 6 assists
Kenyon Martin: 23 points on 11-of-13 shooting
Marcus Camby: 13 points, 15 rebounds,
10 assists and 4 blocks
Seattle leading scorer: Kevin Durant —
23 points.
Submit a Box Score or Correction
NBAHoopsOnline continues to preserve unusual and historically
significant NBA games. If you know of an important box score that
would make a good addition to this archive, or notice an error in
one of the existing pages, please send the information.
When suggesting a game, please include the date, teams, final score,
player or record involved and a reliable source or complete box
score when available.
Send corrections, additions and updates to:
Rednecksbasketball@yahoo.com
Submissions will be reviewed before changes are made to the
NBAHoopsOnline historical records.
