Wednesday, December 12, 2001 - Just seconds after the final buzzer, disgruntled guard Nick Van Exel screamed in frustration and stomped after yet another Denver Nuggets loss.

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BY THE NUMBERS

Right numbers: Nuggets guard Nick Van Exel posted a near triple-double with 18 points, a season-high 15 assists and seven rebounds. Forward Raef LaFrentz had 23 points, nine rebounds and five block shots while swingman James Posey added a season-high 22 points.

Wrong numbers: Charlotte forward Lee Nailon had 20 points and six rebounds. Charlotte went into the fourth quarter ahead 78-68. The Nuggets have dropped nine of their past 10 games, and have shot under 41 percent in six of their past seven games.

Final thought: More Nuggets drama happened after the game when coach Dan Issel got into a shouting match with a fan.

AUDIO

* Head coach Dan Issel, on the Nuggets' good second-half play.

* Nick Van Exel: Close losses hurt.

* George McCloud: We'll get past the tough stretch.

Van Exel recently asked for a trade, in large part because he said he was tired of losing, but on this night the Nuggets had a chance to win in the game's final seconds. A missed shot by seldom-used forward Zendon Hamilton, however, with six seconds left led to the Nuggets' 99-96 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center. Denver (7-14) has dropped nine of its past 10 games.