Nuggets off to best start in 20 years

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Without Kevin Garnett, there might be a lot of games like this for these young Timberwolves.

Minnesota outplayed Denver for most of Friday night, but couldn't come up with the big shots down the stretch and Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points to rally the Nuggets to a 99-91 victory.

Playing the first game in 13 years without Garnett, the Timberwolves raced to an early lead, but Anthony, Allen Iverson and the Nuggets rode an overwhelming advantage at the free throw line to the win.

Iverson shot just 4-for-14 from the field, but still managed 24 points thanks to his 15-for-16 performance at the line.

Marcus Camby added 14 points, 21 rebounds and six blocks for Denver

The officials whistled the Timberwolves for 28 fouls and Denver for 17, and the Nuggets attempted 38 free throws to Minnesota's 19.

Rashad McCants led the Wolves with 23 points and Al Jefferson had 16 points and 13 rebounds for the new-look Timberwolves, who lost their first home opener in 13 years, the year before Garnett arrived.

Minnesota traded Garnett to Boston at the end of July for Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green and two first-round draft picks.

With no visible signs of Garnett in the building he once owned -- aside from several fans wearing his green Celtics No. 5 jersey -- Pyrotechnics and a pregame video announced that on Nov. 2, 2007, "A New Era Begins."

This summer, basketball boss Kevin McHale completely revamped the roster.

Only three players remain on the team from just two years ago, prompting Nuggets head coach George Karl to ask before the game, "Who are they going to start?"

For the record, it was Jefferson, Gomes, Telfair, McCants and Ratliff, and the group used a 19-2 run in the first 5 minutes to take a 19-6 lead.

The Wolves held that lead for the next three quarters, until Camby's jumper gave Denver an 81-79 lead with 8:02 to play.

Anthony scored 11 points in the fourth and the Wolves shot just 2-for-16 in the first 10 minutes of the period to let the game slip away.

While the expectations are almost nonexistent for Minnesota, the Nuggets fully expect to be one of the best teams in the powerful Western Conference this season.

Anthony has predicted a 60-win season, and his veteran presence and clutch shot-making was the difference down the stretch.

He bulldozed rookie Corey Brewer on his way to a three-point play during a 12-2 run in the fourth, then threw down an emphatic dunk over two Timberwolves to hold the lead.

Notes: Wolves G Marko Jaric was given a flagrant foul for clothes-lining Bobby Jones in the second quarter. ... Before every game, Garnett would pour a lot of talcum powder in his hands and dump it an unlucky member of the media. In homage, McCants, who was very close to Garnett, poured a less obnoxious amount in his hand and blew it on press row.