Anthony, Carmelo_2OK, let’s keep the Denver Nuggets’ 129-100 victory over Minnesota last night at the Pepsi Center in perspective: It’s still preseason and it’s just the Timberwolves.

And maybe you have a problem with the replacement refs. But Carmelo Anthony knocked down a game-high 24 points in 23 minutes. That’s more than a point a minute. Moreover, he was 7-for-8 from the line.

As The Denver Post notes, Melo is a “weapon of mass production,” who last season got to the line 7.1 times per game—ninth in the NBA.

Despite all that, the Nuggets haven’t been phenomenal overall. As Bleacher Report notes, the Nuggets have had a slow and disappointing pre-season thus far with losses to Utah, Indiana, and Portland. Maybe Tuesday’s win will spark more of the magic we saw last season. Let’s hope so. The Nuggets are flying to California to face the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday and Friday nights for more preseason action.