NBA: Denver 108, New Orleans 93

DENVER, April 23 (UPI) -- Chauncey Billups scored 31 points Wednesday and Denver pulled away with a huge fourth quarter to defeat New Orleans 108-93.

The Nuggets opened a 2-0 lead in the first-round playoff series, which moves to New Orleans for the third game Saturday.

Denver owned a 10-point lead to begin the fourth quarter, then went on an 18-5 run to start the period. The Nuggets made 9-of-16 tries from 3-point range and hit a higher percentage from outside the arc (56) than from inside it (48).

Billups, obtained from Detroit early in the season in a trade that sent Allen Iverson to the Pistons, made all 11 of his foul shots and led the Nuggets for the second time in as many playoff games. He recorded 36 points in a 113-84 whipping of the Hornets on Sunday.

Carmello Anthony added 22 points and Kenyon Martin had 13. David West led New Orleans with 21.