East Rutherford, N.J. – Carmelo Anthony scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and the Denver Nuggets won their fifth straight game with a 94-90 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night.
Allen Iverson added 20 points and a clinching free throw in the final seconds in helping the Nuggets win for the first time in New Jersey since 2000. It also marked the first time this season that Denver has won a game (1-21) when scoring less than 99 points.
Vince Carter had 29 points and nine assists for the Nets, but he was called for walking with 45 seconds to play, and missed a potential tying 3-pointer with 12 seconds to go.
Marcus Camby and Steve Blake had 10 points apiece for the Nuggets, while Richard Jefferson had 18 points for the Nets, who had won nine of 10 against Denver.
The Nuggets, who built a 13-point lead late in the third quarter, needed Anthony to hold off the Nets in the fourth quarter.
After New Jersey drew within 82-80 on a jumper by Eddie House, Anthony scored six straight points to push the lead to 88-80 on a 3-pointer with 4:56 to go.
A six-point run that Carter capped with a rebound follow got New Jersey within 88-86 with 3:17 to play.
After Iverson hit a layup and Carter followed with a dunk, Anthony made a power move inside and converted a three-point play for a 93-88 edge with 1:38 to go.
Two free throws by Jefferson got New Jersey within 93-90, but the Nets could not score the rest of the way. Iverson closed the scoring with a free throw after Carter’s missed 3-pointer.
Trailing by seven at the half, the Nuggets went on a 23-4 third-quarter spurt, taking a 73-60 lead on a pair of free throws by Anthony.
New Jersey, which turned the ball over five times and went 1-for-11 in the drought, responded with an 18-6 run, getting within 79-78 on a jumper by House.
A three-point play by Eduardo Najera push the Nuggets lead to 82-78, setting up the stretch run.
