Nuggets lose tough one at Chicago, 94-92

The Bulls' Joakim Noah reacts to being fouled during the fourth quarter against the Nuggets in Chicago on Monday. Chicago won 94-92. (Paul Beaty, The Associated Press)

CHICAGO — Not a bad setup — one of the league's top 3-point shooters, shooting a clutch 3-pointer.With a defender lunging into his comfort zone, Arron Afflalo missed a corner 3 with 3.5 seconds left, which would have tied Monday's game. After a free throw and an irrelevant final basket, it was over — 94-92 Bulls — and the Nuggets failed to steal a win in Chicago, like they did a year ago.

Both teams led by 11 at one point in the game, but in the final minutes, it was a one-possession game.During the game, there was an aura around the arena. As reported all summer and fall, Melo has expressed some interest in playing in Chicago, what he called on Monday a "top-three" NBA city. When announced during pregame, he was cheered. Chauncey Billups, a former Bulls rival with Detroit, was booed.

 

Melo put on a show for his, um, fans? He had a game-high 32 points and eight rebounds. There was the gliding George Gervin-like finger roll. An impossible layup in traffic. An arching long 2 with a man in his face. An arching long 3 with a man in his face.

Watching purposefully and proudly from courtside was a conspicuous trio — Melo's agent, Leon Rose; Bulls legendary Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, and the enigmatic hoops power-player William "Worldwide Wes" Wesley.

The Nuggets haven't come close to a deal with Chicago, notably because the Bulls refused to trade Joakim Noah, the big man who notched his sixth-straight double-double. Moreover, Denver didn't want to deal with Luol Deng's hefty four-year, $52 million contract in a trade. And so, while New York and New Jersey wait (patiently/impatiently), many here in Chicago too, hope that Melo will end up in their uniform.

On Monday morning, though, Melo made an interesting comment. No, this shouldn't be taken as an about-face; on the contrary, it really falls under the my-options-are-open umbrella. Still, asked if there's a scenario, if Denver continues to play well and it gets close to February (and the trade deadline), that he could see himself staying with the Nuggets?"Sure," Melo said. "Why not? I don't see why not."

He also admitted that his peachy approach to being a Nugget might be different if Denver wasn't playing so well."I think my attitude would be totally different if I was here and we were 0-6 right now," he said. "Probably, but I can't really speak on that, because we're not. I'm in a good state right now."


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