Anthony Gives Nuggets a Win

Carmelo Anthony made a 14-foot jumper and two free throws down the stretch to lead the Denver Nuggets to their eighth straight win, 90-87, over the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night.

The visiting Nuggets trailed, 79-70, with about nine minutes left after Devin Brown made two three-pointers and Beno Udrih added another for the Spurs, who played without Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for a second straight game. But Denver chipped away at the deficit and scored the game’s final 10 points.

The Spurs’ last points of the game came on a corner jumper by Tony Parker with 3:29 left that made the score 87-80.

Anthony, who had 21 points, made his fourth shot of the night with 1:48 left to cut the Spur lead to 87-86.

Andre Miller tied the score, 87-87, by making one of two free throws, and Eduardo Najera made another with 31 seconds left. Brent Barry threw the ball away on the next possession for the Spurs, who fouled Anthony with 17 seconds left.

The win broke Denver’s eight-game losing streak in San Antonio. It was the Spurs’ third loss in 31 home games this season.

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Miami 90, New Jersey 65 -- Eddie Jones scored 14 of his 18 points in a decisive third quarter to help the Heat win its eighth straight game and 12th in a row at home.

Shaquille O’Neal had 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Heat, which gave up its lowest point total of the season. Damon Jones added 15 points and Dwyane Wade 13.

Vince Carter scored 20 for the Nets, who managed only 26 points in the second half and lost for the fourth time in five games.

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Golden State 105, Atlanta 92 -- Mike Dunleavy and Jason Richardson each scored 22 points at Atlanta and Golden State set a team record with 18 three-pointers.

Dunleavy was six for seven from three-point range and Baron Davis went six for 10 from the field and scored 20 points. The Warriors, 18 for 33 on threes, fell one shy of the NBA record set by Atlanta in against Dallas on Dec. 17, 1996.

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Portland 80, Memphis 66 -- Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 25 points and 10 rebounds at home to help give Kevin Pritchard his first victory as Portland’s interim coach.

Pritchard, the team’s director of player personnel, lost his first four games after taking over the Trail Blazers after Maurice Cheeks’ firing. Portland had lost six straight overall.

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New Orleans 111, Milwaukee 107 -- J.R. Smith made three free throws in the final four seconds and finished with 17 points at home for New Orleans.

Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 29 points.