Salt Lake City – Carlos Boozer had 25 points and 19 rebounds, and the Utah Jazz beat Denver 116-111 on Friday night to hand the Nuggets their first loss since Carmelo Anthony rejoined the team.
The top two clubs in the Northwest Division both shot better than 50 percent, but the Jazz were stronger in the fourth quarter.
They scored the final six points, finally shutting down Allen Iverson and Anthony in the last minute.
Iverson had 33 points and six assists, and Anthony scored 37 in his third game back since serving a 15-game suspension. Marcus Camby added 21 points and 10 rebounds for Denver.
The Nuggets had a chance to cut into Utah’s division lead and tie the season series at a game apiece, but rookies Ronnie Brewer and Paul Millsap helped Boozer and Deron Williams extend Utah’s cushion to five games over second-place Denver.
Brewer matched his career high with 12 points, six in the fourth quarter. Millsap added two blocks in the final period, including one on Anthony on what would have been a layup or dunk.
Millsap finished with six rebounds. He and Brewer were on the court at the end.
Utah lost Andrei Kirilenko with a sprained ankle in the second quarter and coach Jerry Sloan had to go to his younger players, especially with the foul trouble Anthony and Iverson were causing.
The Nuggets made 31 of 40 free throws and led through three quarters, then the Jazz started hitting from the line. Utah went 10-for-14 in the final period.
Denver lost to Utah earlier this month at home, but that was shortly after Iverson arrived from Philadelphia and in the middle of Anthony’s fighting suspension. The Nuggets’ superstar tandem led Denver to an 11-point lead, but couldn’t hang on in the frenzied finish.
Iverson’s 3-pointer with 1:11 left cut Utah’s lead to 110-109, then a bad pass bounced right to Iverson and he took it in for an uncontested layup that put the Nuggets up 111-110.
Matt Harpring missed a baseline jumper for Utah, but Nene was called for a foul on the rebound and Boozer made both free throws to put Utah back ahead.
Denver had plenty of time and Iverson got the ball to Anthony, but he dribbled it off his foot and the Jazz regained possession.
Anthony pounded himself softly on the head with both fists after the turnover.
Williams made both free throws with 21 seconds left, then two more after Steve Blake missed badly on a 3-pointer. Millsap grabbed the rebound after Blake’s shot clanged off the rim.
Anthony tried another 3 but missed and Williams dribbled out the clock, then tossed the ball straight up after the buzzer.
Notes: Denver led 67-62 after a fast-paced first half. … Sloan got a technical in the fourth quarter after riding the officials most of the game for the calls he thought Iverson and Anthony were getting. … Anthony missed a layup in the third quarter because he didn’t release the ball when he went toward the basket. He was called for traveling, delighting the Jazz fans who were booing the officials most of the game. … Gordan Giricek scored 13 for Utah.
