DENVER (Ticker) -- Without Shawn Marion, the Phoenix Suns had trouble stopping Francisco Elson and rookie Carmelo Anthony inside.
Elson set career highs with 16 points and 10 rebounds and Anthony scored 17 points as the Denver Nuggets routed the Suns, 110-80.
"I'm happy, first career double-double in the NBA," Elson said.
Seven players reached double figures for the Nuggets, who set a season high in points en route to their fifth win in seven games.
"To win at home against a team like this is a good win," Anthony said. "But we got to put it behind us because we have Dallas on Friday."
Denver had a 5-2 lead when Marion, an All-Star last season, sprained his left ankle just 2:16 into the contest. The Nuggets extended a one-point edge after one quarter to a 49-42 halftime cushion, then pulled away in the second half, leading by as many as 32 points down the stretch.
"That was a real good win for us tonight," said Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik, whose team had 27 assists on 38 baskets. "We're beginning to share the basketball, which makes it easier for us. We had some defensive schemes that we put on tonight, and I felt that it hurt them a little bit."
Amare Stoudemire contributed 25 points and 13 rebounds and Stephon Marbury had 20 and 12 for the Suns, who had a three-game winning streak snapped and failed in a bid to crack the .500 mark for the first time this season.
"They just killed us tonight, nothing else to say," Marbury said. "They beat us all across the board and in every facet. It doesn't matter about my stats, we just flat-out lost."
The Suns frequently were careless with the ball, committing 26 turnovers that the Nuggets turned into 28 points. Phoenix also was outscored on the break, 29-12.
"I never expected this ... the turnovers and the transition defense," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "I didn't expect us to have 26 turnovers. We were just giving it to them. Christmas isn't until December 25, but we were giving gifts early."
"I guess the altitude got to them," Anthony joked.
