Nuggets' Anthony arrested on suspicion of DUI

4/14/2008 11:32 PM

By ARNIE STAPLETON
AP Sports Writer

DENVER (AP) -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 their fifth straight playoff berth Monday night when Golden State lost at Phoenix. Denver had beaten Houston 111-94 Sunday night to move a-half game ahead of the Warriors for the eighth spot in the Western Conference.

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.

Last season, he was involved in a brawl at Madison Square Garden. After J.R. Smith was collared on his way to a breakaway basket in the closing minutes of a rout, Anthony, then the league's leading scorer, dropped the New York Knicks' Mardy Collins with a punch that drew a 15-game suspension.

In February, Anthony was ticketed in Colorado for driving 25 mph over the posted speed limit. A hearing is set for next month.

Associated Press Writer Dan Elliott contributed to this report.