Nuggets Outlast Suns in Triple Overtime

Carmelo Anthony scored 43 points and made the game-winning shot with 2.9 seconds left in the third overtime to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Phoenix Suns, 139-137, Tuesday night at Denver.

After Anthony made a short jumper, Eddie House was short on a long jumper after a timeout.

Earl Boykins added a career-best 33 points for the Nuggets in their first triple-overtime game in a decade. It was the Suns’ second triple-overtime game this season: They lost at New York on Jan. 2.

Raja Bell led Phoenix with 30 points, followed by Shawn Marion with 28 and Steve Nash with 26.

Boykins scored nine points in the first overtime but with the score tied at 117-117, he missed a 12-footer at the buzzer that would have won it. Marion missed a 10-footer that would have won it for the Suns in regulation.

*

San Antonio 96, New Jersey 91 -- Tim Duncan scored 27 points, going 13 for 15 from the free-throw line, to help the Spurs end the visiting Nets’ 10-game winning streak.

The Spurs extended their home winning streak to 12. Vince Carter scored 34 for New Jersey.

*

New York 92, Cleveland 84 -- Jamal Crawford had 20 of his 26 points in the second half and the Knicks won their fourth in a row by outscoring the host Cavaliers, 25-12, in the fourth quarter.

Cleveland’s LeBron James finished with 36 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, becoming the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1966 to have at least 30 points, seven rebounds and five assists in seven straight games.

*

Charlotte 111, Houston 106 -- Raymond Felton made a jumper with 20 seconds left in the second overtime, then made two free throws to seal the Bobcats’ victory over the visiting Rockets.

Charlotte’s Emeka Okafor (21 points) re-injured his right ankle in the second overtime. It was his first game after missing eight in a row because of a sprain. Gerald Wallace had 26 points for Charlotte. Juwan Howard had 28 points for Houston.

*

Detroit 96, New Orleans 86 -- Richard Hamilton had 30 points and the Pistons used a 9-0 third-quarter run to take the lead for good and a 12-0 fourth-quarter surge to ice it at Oklahoma City.

The Hornets lost their second straight game despite the unexpected return of rookie point guard Chris Paul, who started despite a torn ligament in his right hand. David West led them with 20 points.

*

Milwaukee 95, Minnesota 92 -- Michael Redd scored 22 points at Milwaukee to help the Bucks end a three-game losing streak by handing the Timberwolves their fifth loss in six games.

Marko Jaric scored 21 points for the Timberwolves but missed a three-pointer as time expired.

*

Memphis 99, Sacramento 85 -- Mike Miller had 21 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, recording the Grizzlies’ first triple-double since moving from Vancouver, as the Grizzlies overcame a 15-point second-quarter deficit at Memphis, Tenn.

*

Boston 98, Atlanta 94 -- Ricky Davis had 21 points and converted a three-point play with 1:40 left to give the Celtics their first lead since the opening quarter in a victory at Atlanta.