Denver's Anthony arrested for DUI

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Apr 15, 2008 | by Associated Press

DENVER -- NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony was arrested early Monday on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, hours after his worst game of the season.

The Denver Nuggets forward was arrested on Interstate 25, police said. He was alone in the car and pulled over for weaving and not dimming his lights.

Detective Sharon Hahn said Anthony failed a series of sobriety tests. He was charged with DUI, then taken to police headquarters before being released to a "sober responsible party," Hahn said. Anthony is due in court May 14.

Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets' vice president of basketball operations, said the team was aware of the situation but declined comment. The Nuggets did not practice Monday and Anthony wasn't available. He's expected at practice Tuesday.

Anthony's attorney, Dan Recht, said his client consented to a blood test, but results won't be available for about two weeks.

"Carmelo apologizes to his fans, the Denver community, his teammates and the Nuggets organization for the distraction this is causing them," Recht said.

The Nuggets (49-32) clinched the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference on Monday when Golden State lost to Phoenix.

Anthony was held to 11 points on 3-of-14 shooting against a Rockets team that was missing defensive specialist Shane Battier. Anthony did extend his NBA-best streak of double-digit games to 206.

On Saturday, he committed a flagrant foul against Utah's Deron Williams that changed the course of a close game. The Jazz went on to win 124-97.

Anthony was named an All-Star starter for the first time this year. He's fourth in the NBA in scoring (25.8) and is averaging a career-best 7.4 rebounds.

OKAFOR FACES BIG OFFSEASON: Emeka Okafor has one of the most extensive pregame warmup routines in the NBA. He'll spend an hour after games stretching and taking care of his body.

The Charlotte Bobcats forward will follow that strict schedule twice more this week. Then the methodical first draft pick in team history enters the unknown: restricted free agency.

"This is my team," Okafor said as sweat poured down his face during a break in a pregame workout last week. "I've been here from the jump. Of course I want to stay here."

It's far from a lock. The 6-foot-10 power forward has clashed at times with first-year coach Sam Vincent, who has rubbed several players the wrong way in a disappointing season that ends Wednesday without the franchise's first playoff berth.

Vincent's future is also uncertain. Basketball operations chief Michael Jordan has said he'll decide after the season if Vincent will return.

"When there's change, there are growing pains," said Okafor, who got into a heated exchange with Vincent at the end of a December practice. "It's not the same chemistry and some things take time. It's been -- it's been all right."