New Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Cooper was victorious in his first game, defeating the 76ers by a final score of 97-92.  Denver outscored Philadelphia 30-18 in the 4th quarter.

Carmelo Anthony returned to action and scored 24 points for the Nuggets.  Allen Iverson led all scorers with 29 points.

Marcus Camby left the game in the 1st quarter and did not return, due to injury.  He had scored 8 points in that 9 minutes of play.

Cooper was named interim head coach of the Nuggets after Jeff Bzdelik was fired on Tuesday, following a disappointing loss at Golden State.

Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony has become engaged to MTV veejay La La Vasquez.

Anthony said on Thursday that he proposed on Christmas Day, and Vasquez accepted. They haven't set a wedding date.

The Nuggets are reportedly showing some interest in Jerry Sloan?s top assistant of 17 seasons in Utah, Phil Johnson.

"He said they were interested, that's all," Johnson said of a "very brief" phone conversation with Vandeweghe, who fired Bzdelik on Tuesday after 2 1/2 seasons and the Nuggets in the midst of a six-game losing streak. "He wants to talk."

Johnson, who has been rated as the NBA?s top assistant coach in a survey of the league?s managers in October, is not sure he wants to take over a team in mid-season after a rough experience in Kansas City, taking over a team in midseason is much more awkward than during the summer - he knows from experience, having assumed the Kansas City Kings' reins midway through the 1973-74   season - and it leaves the coach's current team in a difficult situation, "so maybe that makes you less inclined [to seek the job]. But we'll see," he said.

Michael Cooper started off his tenure as the interim head coach of the Denver Nuggets with a team meeting during which he assessed a player's role within the system he's about to run.

Then he took them to court.

Most of the first day of practicing was dedicated to defense. The players went through the "Shell Drill," a contest in which points came easier by making stops on defense than making baskets on offense. Bodies were flying - at one point, Bryon Russell, Marcus Camby and Andre Miller all went down in a heap. Earlier in the workout, guard Greg Buckner left with a groin strain.

"The first practice was short, but it was competitive," Carmelo F Anthony said. "It was hard and to the point. We haven't been running enough. We need to get 28, 30 points off our fast break. That starts with defense. Everybody's got to play defense."

PG Andre Miller added: "Coach let the people know right to their face what he expects of them. There were no hidden agendas. That's how it should be."

The Nuggets have scheduled an 11:30 press conference to announce that the team has fired its head coach, Jeff Bzdelik.  A successor has been named at it is assistant coach Michael Cooper.

General manager Kiki Vanderweghe said: "We felt we needed a change. I want to thank Jeff for all the hard work. He's a big part in turning this around. But we want to build to the next level, and the team wasn't going in the right direction. Sometimes, you can use a change or a new voice."

Bzdelik was in his third season as the Nuggets' head coach,  compiling a 73-119 record. He led the team to its first postseason birth in 10 years last season, a year after winning only 17 games.

Twenty-four hours after coming back to defeat the Sacramento Kings, the Warriors were led by 24 points by Mickael Pietrus to defeat the Denver Nuggets by a score of 104-101.

The Nuggets were without Carmelo Anthony and Kenyon Martin.

Adonal Foyle's two fourth-quarter blocks moved him past Joe Barry Carroll for first on the Warriors' career blocks list with 838.

Nikoloz Tskitishvili scored 12 points for Denver. Coming in, he had scored just 15 in 10 games all season

Carmelo Anthony, who has missed three games because of a sprained left ankle, took part in non-contact drills Friday and might return on Sunday against the Dallas Mavericks.

His Christmas Eve workout followed three-hour individual sessions Wednesday and Thursday.

"He probably could have done the full drills (Friday), but it wasn't worth chancing it," Nuggets trainer Jim Gillen said. "The only thing that was really bothering him was stopping."

Although he has kept mum, Carmelo Anthony, The Denver Nuggets second year star seems close to a return to the court.  

He has returned to regular workouts and the Nuggets trainer seems confident that he is just about ready.  "He probably could have done the full drills (Friday), but it wasn't worth chancing it," Nuggets trainer Jim Gillen said. "The only thing that was really bothering him was stopping."

When asked for comment, his words were kept short.  "It's Christmas," Anthony said as he prepared to ride out of sight. "Merry Christmas."

The Rocky Mountain News and ESPN are reporting that Carmelo Anthony may not play again until after Christmas.

Though reporting progress with his sprained left ankle, Anthony missed his second game in a row Monday night.

He is listed as questionable for Wednesday's game at Seattle and is leaning toward giving the ankle a full week of rest for Sunday's game against the Mavs.

"I don't want to force it," Anthony said. "I don't want to come back until I'm ready to come back.

"Of course, it's going to be tough, but I'd rather sit out games now than in March or April."

After playing on Monday night in the Mile High City, Suns guard Joe Johnson said he will consider Denver when he becomes a restricted free agent in the summer.

"I'm going to take a look at it," he said. "I'm going to take a look at whoever's willing to offer. It's going to be a tough decision."

Johnson, averaging 16.3 points, said he "would love to come back" to Phoenix next season.

The Suns can match any offer for Johnson but might try to move him in a sign-and-trade for a big man.