Melo joins 40-40 club

Look no further than Denver’s own natural wonder, Carmelo Anthony.

As a multiple threat in the paint, on the perimeter, in transition and at the foul line, Anthony has been a model of scoring efficiency while leading the Nuggets to their first 3-0 start in 24 years.

Coming off a 41-point performance last week against Portland, Anthony made it look easy again Sunday night, scoring 42 points in a 133-123 win over the feisty Memphis Grizzlies.

"Ain’t nothing easy about scoring in this league," teammate Kenyon Martin said. "It’s a testament to how much he’s evolved as a basketball player."

Anthony’s production is evolving with each game. After scoring a modest 30 in the season-opener, he has raised his league-leading average to 37.7 points with the first back-to-back 40-point games of his career.

"He’s the best scorer that I’ve ever played with," said point guard Chauncey Billups, who’s in his 13th NBA season. "I’ve played with a lot of good players, but he’s just got a knack. His skill set for his body type is tremendous. It’s a mismatch no matter who you throw on him."

Like the Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers before them, the Grizzlies had no answer for Anthony. Rudy Gay drew the initial defensive assignment, but ran into early foul trouble. Rookies DeMarre Carroll and Sam Young also were no match for an established All-Star who is quickly developing into an MVP candidate.

"If I do what I’ve got to do – if my team wins – then all them accolades will come," Anthony said. "I’m not coming out saying I’m going to get MVP. It’s too early for that. We’re winning. We’re playing great. We’ll see what happens after that."

While Anthony’s scoring has been off the charts, he has been anything but one-dimensional, averaging 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in the season’s early stages.

"I think Melo’s awareness to how he’s being covered is the best it’s been," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "His efficiency is pretty incredible right now, to post-ups to jump shots to penetrations to good passing decisions. We’ve needed it. We have a little bit of a hole with J.R. not playing."

Though Anthony was the headliner again Sunday, he had plenty of support. Billups had 22 points and 12 assists; Nene added 18 points and nine rebounds; and Martin finished with 16 points and three steals.

The balance is a byproduct of Anthony’s ability to draw defenders like metal shavings to a magnet.

"Guys `ball watch’ when you’ve got a guy scoring like Melo’s scoring," Martin said. "They try to take the ball out of his hands and it makes lanes and avenues for other guys to make plays, and I think we’re doing an excellent job of doing that."

With a six-game road trip on the horizon, the Nuggets looked lethargic early against Memphis. The Grizzlies made 11 of their first 12 shots and built an 11-point lead before Denver started to show some resistance.

The more experienced Nuggets took their first lead early in the second quarter and never trailed after halftime. Anthony asserted himself in the third quarter, scoring 14 points to help Denver stretch the lead to as many as 13.

"It was kind of dead on both sides," Anthony said. "There came a point where somebody had to stop and do something. It just so happened it was me in that third quarter."

Late in the fourth quarter, Anthony became the first Denver player since Michael Adams in 1991 with consecutive 40-point games, and he heard light chants of M-V-P as he stepped to the free-throw line for points 41 and 42. The crowds won’t be so hospitable on the road, but that only figures to give Melo motivation as he tries to continue his torrid start.

"Don’t jinx me, man," he said. "I’m just trying to get wins. It just so happens, I’m playing the way I’m playing. That’s all."

That’s like saying Mount Everest is a nice little hill or the Grand Canyon is a nice little valley.

There’s a reason they’re considered natural wonders.