OKLAHOMA CITY — Carmelo Anthony stood stoically near halfcourt when coach George Karl started furiously waving his arms like a third-base coach. Anthony, green light shining, drove down the left side of the lane and made a tough close-in shot over Jeff Green, giving Denver a 114-113 lead over Oklahoma City with 5.2 seconds left.
The Thunder’s Kevin Durant couldn’t make a desperation 3 at the other end, and once again, the Nuggets (33-16) slipped out of Oklahoma City with a close win.
It was a valiant victory for the Nuggets, playing without Chauncey Billups and Kenyon Martin — though it was against the Thunder (11-38).
The Nuggets began the second quarter down just one but proceeded to fall apart. At one point, Oklahoma City led by 17 points in the second quarter and went into halftime ahead 70-59.
But Denver, as a first-place team should, made a comeback against the Thunder, a last-place team. At the 5:32 mark in the fourth quarter, a J.R. Smith free throw gave Denver its first lead since 8:33 in the second.
