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Recap: LA Clippers vs. Denver
Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to a much-needed 117-99 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers.
Allen Iverson added 21 points and nine assists for the Nuggets, who snapped a two-game skid. The Nuggets and the Warriors are tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Golden State defeated Sacramento on Tuesday night and will host the Nuggets on Thursday. Linas Kleiza gave 15 points off the bench. Marcus Camby ended with 13 points and 18 rebounds, while J.R. Smith had 10 points.
"Everybody knew we had to get out of here with a win," Iverson said. "We put a run together in the second quarter and our confidence was there. We then put another run together and made some stops. We fell good about our effort tonight."
Cuttino Mobley dropped 25 points for the Clippers, who have dropped three straight. Elton Brand chipped in 17 points and Quinton Ross 10.
Corey Maggette, who is averaging a team-best 22.2 points per game for the Clippers this season and center Chris Kaman (sprained right ankle) missed Tuesday's contest.
The clubs played to a 23-23 tie after 12 minutes of basketball.
The Nuggets scored 17 of the final 21 points of the half to open a 63-47 lead at the break.
"In the second quarter, we turned the ball over too much and they built a lead on us," Los Angeles Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "Melo (Carmelo Anthony) was so efficient in what he was doing. It made it tough for us to get back in the game."
An Iverson three-point play closed out a quick 7-0 Denver run. Four points from Anthony sparked the surge, which left the Nuggets with a 79-55 cushion and about six minutes left in the third quarter.
A three-pointer from Ross, jumper from Brevin Knight and a bucket from Mobley brought the Clippers within 91-74 heading into the final stanza.
Four points from Kleiza and a bucket from Camby gave Denver a 97-74 lead with about 10 1/2 minutes left in regulation.
The Nuggets' lead hovered around 20 points, until an Anthony free throw sparked eight unanswered Denver points. Anthony also closed out the surge with a pair from the stripe that put the Nuggets up 107-80 almost midway through the fourth quarter.
Denver was never seriously tested the rest of the way.
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