Allen Iverson scored 38 points, including two big jumpers in the final two minutes, and Carmelo Anthony added 30, helping the 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 consecutive game.
