Westhead’s Nuggets Lose Big in Debut, 186-123
Denver Nugget Coach Paul Westhead’s run-and gun style that he used at Loyola Marymount backfired as the Phoenix Suns routed the Nuggets, 186-123, in the NBA exhibition opener for both teams Thursday night.
Phoenix rookie forward Cedric Ceballos, who made all 12 of his field-goal attempts, scored 29 points and Eddie Johnson added 27 for the Suns.
Ceballos, a second-round draft pick out of Cal State Fullerton, scored 18 points in the fourth quarter.
It was the most points the Suns have scored in any game in their 23-year history. Their regular-season team record is 160, set against Portland on March 21, 1972.
The Suns, whose regular-season team record for points in one half is 91 set Nov. 1, 1984 against Portland, led 89-64 at halftime despite missing 22 of their 50 field-goal attempts.
Denver committed 48 personal fouls, and Phoenix made 52 of 71 free-throw attempts.
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