DENVER—Allen Iverson scored 38 points, including two big jumpers in the final two minutes, and Carmelo Anthony added 30, helping the Denver Nuggets hold on for a 110-104 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday night.
Iverson put the Nuggets ahead for good with an 18-foot, off-balance floater with 1:23 remaining. Anthony sealed the Nuggets’ second straight win with a layup and two free throws in the final 43 seconds.
The Clippers, down by as many as 13 points in the second half, momentarily took the lead on two free throws by Corey Maggette with 2:17 left.
However, Iverson worked his way free and hit a jumper to tie the game at 104. On the next trip, he gave Denver a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
The win gave George Karl his 864th victory, tying him with Jack Ramsay for 10th place on the career coaching list.
The Nuggets were coming off a 138-96 rout of Seattle in which they shot a franchise-record 67 percent from the floor. Denver couldn’t keep up the blistering pace, shooting 45 percent against Los Angeles.
Marcus Camby had 12 points and 17 rebounds, his 23rd double-double of the season, and Kenyon Martin added 13 points.
Al Thornton came off the bench to tie a career high with 33 points and set a new high in rebounds with 12. Maggette added 28 points, while Brevin Knight had a season-high 12 assists as the Clippers dropped their fourth straight game.
The Nuggets were 2-0 against Los Angeles at the Pepsi Center this season, their first home sweep of the Clippers since 2000-01.
The Clippers waived popular point guard Sam Cassell on Thursday, opening the door for him to sign with a contender such as the Boston Celtics.
“He wanted to go to try and have a chance to win a championship someplace,” coach Mike Dunleavy said.
Dunleavy said Cassell departed on good terms. He had missed the team’s last four games with a sprained right wrist.
The 15-year veteran was a charismatic figure in the locker room.
“He meant a lot to this team,” Corey Maggette said. “He brought leadership, he brought us together. We understand. It’s a business.”
Tim Thomas even showed up at shootaround on Friday morning wearing a Cassell jersey.
“I miss him,” Thomas said.
Notes:@ Clippers forward Nick Fazekas played high school hoops in a suburb of Denver. Fazekas, who signed a 10-day contract with the team on Feb. 25, played more than four minutes, but didn’t score. … Clippers forward Elton Brand is traveling with the team as he rehabilitates his ruptured left Achilles’ tendon. Brand was hurt at the team’s practice facility in August. “He’s not back, but he’s moving in the right direction,” Dunleavy said before the game. … Clippers center Chris Kaman wasn’t with the team, missing his fourth straight game with a sore lower back. … Denver is 2-4 on Feb. 29 since joining the NBA. …
