Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets lost 100-95 to the Allen Iverson-less Detroit Pistons last night, during which Carmelo Anthony cooled his heels–and, hopefully, his temper.

Coach George Karl suspended the star forward after he refused to be subbed out in a previous game against Indiana, according to The Denver Post, which reports that Anthony was furious and walked out of a timeout huddle during the third period and played the remaining 1:13. Karl said he stood by his decision to bench the captain but also indicated he understood Melo’s side: “Melo wanted to win that game, and the stress and the emotion went the wrong way.”

What makes Karl tick? Read more in this month’s 5280.