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		Billups comes up big against Warriors By Jeremy Kahn January 20, 2010
	Denver Nuggets' Chauncey Billups, right, trys to drive the ball around Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo)
	When Chauncey Billups was traded from the Detroit Pistons to the Denver Nuggets, people wondered why Joe Dumars would trade the 2004 NBA Finals MVP. Since joining the Nuggets a few games into the 2008-2009 season, Billups is loving being back in his hometown. Billups scored 37 points, while Carmelo Anthony added 23 and the Nuggets defeated the Golden State Warriors 123-118 at Oracle Arena. Monta Ellis played all 53 minutes for his 10th complete game of the season, and scored 39 points in the hard-fought loss. Corey Maggette continues to market himself for the All-Star Game, as he scored 33 points, including 13-for-13 at the free throw line. Just like in the first meeting where Josh Smith received in the waning seconds of the game, and made them to give the Nuggets a close victory, Smith played a factor again. Smith was fouled on a three-point attempt with under one second remaining in the third quarter, and subsequently hit all three.