DALLAS — The official play-by-play read: “Anthony Driving Layup.”
Here’s what really happened: In the biggest moment of the Nuggets’ biggest game to date, Carmelo Anthony bulldozed toward the basket, somehow getting off the layup attempt with James Singleton and Dirk Nowitzki lunging in front of him — and even more amazing, making the shot.
It proved to be the game-winner in Denver’s 103-101 road win Friday over the Mavericks on a night in which the Nuggets’ star forward scored 43 points. The Mavericks had a chance to win, but Nowitzki and Antoine Wright missed shot attempts. Anthony then made a free throw with 1.2 seconds left.
Anthony averages 22.3 points per game this season, but in the past five games, he has averaged 31.2. It was also the most points Anthony had scored against Dallas, eclipsing his mark of 34.
Nuggets guard J.R. Smith is becoming as vicious a villain in Dallas as J.R. Ewing. Denver’s J.R. scored 22 points on 9-for-12 shooting.
With the victory, the Nuggets accomplished something no Nuggets team had done — a season sweep of the Mavericks. As it stands, the Nuggets are 47-26, in first place in the Northwest Division and tied for third in the Western Conference with Houston.
Now Denver heads home for games against Golden State and New York, before one of the biggest games of the season — Thursday against division rival Utah, which currently trails the Nuggets by two games.
