Nuggets Welcome Bickerstaff, Trounce Clippers

DENVER —  When Bernie Bickerstaff, the Denver Nuggets’ general manager, president and new head coach, speaks, his players apparently listen.

The Nuggets routed the Clippers, 118-80, Tuesday night, recording the fifth-largest victory in franchise history and the third-largest since the team joined the NBA.

All three of those victories came against the Clippers.

Named on Monday as Denver’s third head coach this season, Bickerstaff said his aim would be to instill a winning attitude in his players and improve their defense.

Denver responded immediately. The Nuggets had 33 defensive rebounds as the Clippers shot only 36% from the field.

“Defensively, we wanted to help as much as possible,” said Robert Pack, who came off the bench to get 20 points and 10 assists. “When their guy goes into the lane, all five guys converge on him and that is the way coach wants it. That’s as much fun as we’ve had in a long time.”

It wasn’t much fun for Clipper Coach Bill Fitch.

“We played as bad as we have played all year--the worst effort and our worst game,” he said. “No heart, no effort. I’m not trying to take anything away from Denver or Bernie, but anybody could’ve beaten us tonight.”

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf scored 17 for the Nuggets, Reggie Williams had 16 and Dikembe Mutombo had 12 points, 13 rebounds and five blocked shots.

The Clippers were led by Eric Piatkowski’s 14 points. Loy Vaught had 13.

“Bernie rejuvenated our spirits,” said Denver’s Bryant Stith. “Coming out and beating a team we were supposed to beat was the key, and we did it decisively. Bernie has everybody’s attention. He came in the shootaround (practice) and stressed two factors, defense and share the basketball on offense, and we did that tonight.”