Nuggets Taking On Look of a Winner

The Denver Nuggets have a four-game winning streak for the first time in nearly five years after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-105, Friday night at Denver.

Ron Mercer scored 27 points, George McCloud had 13 of his 21 in the fourth quarter, Nick Van Exel had 21 points and 10 assists and Raef LaFrentz had 19 points and a career-high 20 rebounds to lead the Nuggets.

The Timberwolves lost Kevin Garnett when he suffered a sprained left ankle in the third quarter.

Portland 91, Houston 88--Scottie Pippen scored 19 points in the first three quarters, then none after that against his former team, but he got plenty of help from Steve Smith as the Trail Blazers beat the Rockets in overtime at Portland.

Smith made three key shots in overtime.

Reserve Cuttino Mobley had 25 points to lead the Rockets, and Charles Barkley had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was the first between the teams since the Rockets traded Pippen to Portland on Oct. 2, a few days after Pippen blasted Barkley on national TV, calling him “selfish” and “fat.”

The two did not speak Friday night.

Rocket center Hakeem Olajuwon suffered a pulled right groin early in the second half.

Sacramento 124, Golden State 95--Chris Webber had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists at Sacramento as the Kings won their eighth in a row, the longest winning streak for the franchise since the Kansas City Kings won eight straight in 1979.

Charlotte 118, Washington 85--The Hornets, getting 19 points from Elden Campbell and big games from some of their reserves, improved to 7-1 at home.

The Hornet bench outscored the Wizard bench, 63-38. Brad Miller had 14 points and 10 rebounds and Bobby Phills had 10 points, three assists and a steal.

The Hornets led by 31 at halftime. The Wizards, playing for the third time in four days, had 27 turnovers. Eddie Jones, the NBA leader in steals, had two.

Toronto 100, Utah 87--Vince Carter scored 10 of his 18 points in a burst that opened the fourth quarter and Tracy McGrady had 17 points off the bench as Raptors won at Salt Lake City.

Indiana 105, Vancouver 86--Balanced scoring--seven Pacers scored in double figures--and 53% shooting key the Pacers’ victory at Indianapolis. Rik Smits had 17 points and three blocked shots.

Reggie Miller was limited to 11 points on three-of-eight shooting.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 22 for the Grizzlies, who lost their sixth in a row overall and 28th straight on the road, dating to last season.

Detroit 93, Atlanta 91--Grant Hill scored 30 points as the Pistons beat the Hawks at Auburn Hills, Mich. The Hawks still had a chance after the Pistons’ Lindsey Hunter made only one of two free throws with 2.5 seconds left, but Hunter knocked away in the inbound pass to preserve the victory.

San Antonio 101, Chicago 78--Tim Duncan scored 23 points and had a career-high eight blocks at San Antonio to lead the Spurs over the Bulls. Elton Brand had 24 points for Chicago, losers of six in a row.

Philadelphia 106, Cleveland 83--Tyrone Hill had 17 of his season-high 22 points in the first half as the 76ers cruised past the Cavaliers at Philadelphia.

Milwaukee 114, Boston 112--Sam Cassell had 28 points and Ray Allen made the go-ahead shot with 44 seconds left as the Bucks overcame a 21-point deficit to beat the Celtics at Boston.

Around the League

The Detroit Pistons put guard Jermaine Jackson on the injured list because of tendinitis in the right knee and activated guard John Crotty.