The Nuggets picked up right where they left off at the end of the first round of the National Basketball Association playoffs, beating the Dallas Mavericks 109-95 yesterday at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets' bench was key to the victory, writes The Denver Post. Basketball fans around the country are finally starting to notice the Nuggets--and it's not just because of the way they're playing. Mark Warkentien, the team's vice president of basketball operations, was named the NBA's executive of the year yesterday (via The Associated Press). Warkentien pulled off the deal to bring Chauncey Billups to Denver.