It Takes More Than One Year, but Nuggets Win on the Road

The Denver Nuggets won a road game for the first time in more than a year Wednesday night as Nick Van Exel scored 11 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter of an 87-84 victory over the Grizzlies at Vancouver, Canada.

Since beating Washington March 17, 1998, the Nuggets had lost 24 in a row on the road--seven last season and 17 this season.

Van Exel sealed the victory down the stretch. With Denver down, 84-83, Van Exel put the Nuggets ahead for good on a three-point basket with 27 seconds remaining.

Antonio McDyess led the Nuggets with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

Charlotte 106, New York 82--David Wesley scored 14 of his 24 points during a first-half barrage that helped the Hornets break a five-game losing skid and rout the slumping Knicks at Charlotte, N.C.

New York, losing for the third consecutive time and the eighth in 12 games, fell behind by as many as 22 points in the first half.

Philadelphia 96, New Jersey 92--Matt Geiger scored six straight fourth-quarter points at East Rutherford, N.J., to help the 76ers overcome a bad second half by Allen Iverson and end the Nets’ season-high four-game winning streak.

Iverson led the Sixers with 23 points, but was only one for 10 in the second half with five missed free throws--including two in the final minute.

Miami 93, Dallas 87--The Heat held Dallas without a field goal for 6:34 of the third quarter, and P.J. Brown scored the last of his 23 points on two free throws with 24.2 seconds left to hold off the Mavericks at Miami.

The victory was the 936th of coach Pat Riley’s career, moving him into sole possession of fourth place on the NBA’s all-time list. He entered the game tied with Dick Motta with 935 and now is two behind Hall of Famer Red Auerbach for third.

Boston 108, Washington 87--Paul Pierce scored 23 points at Boston to help the Celtics end a four-game losing streak and extend the Wizards’ to four games.

Kenny Anderson (14 points) returned after Celtic Coach Rick Pitino left him home for Monday’s game at Orlando after a sideline spat on Sunday.

Detroit 89, Atlanta 82--Grant Hill scored 15 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter at Auburn Hills, Mich., to help the Pistons end the Hawks’ three-game winning streak.

Milwaukee 99, Cleveland 91--Glenn Robinson scored a season-high 33 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, to lead the Bucks at Milwaukee.

Phoenix 90, Minnesota 82--Cliff Robinson had 27 points, five steals and five blocked shots at Phoenix as the Suns snapped the Timberwolves’ four-game winning streak.

Indiana 91, Chicago 74--Mark Jackson scored 13 points to lead six Pacers in double figures at Chicago as they used a 13-2 second-quarter run to roll to their fourth straight victory. Jackson had missed Monday’s game to attend his father’s funeral.

Notes

Houston Rocket guard Brent Price underwent knee surgery, a day after being injured in a victory over Golden State, and is expected to miss 3-4 weeks. . . . The Phoenix Suns activated guard Rex Chapman from the injured list after a toe injury.