It came down to a final Denver possession, with 1.4 seconds left, and guard J.R. Smith was fouled by Monta Ellis while attempting a 3-pointer. Down 122-121, Smith made the first two free throws, and missed the third, which the Warriors recovered. Golden State called timeout with 0.1 seconds left and had a desperation inbounds play, but Kenyon Martin swatted it out of the air to end the night.
The win was just Denver’s third in nine games.
On a night playing without Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Chris Andersen, and Ty Lawson was injured and left the game in the fourth quarter, Kenyon Martin finished with a season-high 27 points, including 10 in the third quarter.
“Kenyon has been great seven, eight games in a row now,” Denver coach George Karl said before the game. “He’s been consistent rebounding and, of course, his quarterbacking of our defense has been prime time. Offensively, he has a knack of getting a double-digit night almost every night.”
Lawson again played well before leaving, scoringd 21 points and showed brilliant body control, even in midair. During one third-quarter drive, he made a layup over 7-footer Andris Biedrins.
