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Anthony gets help and Denver wins

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From the Associated Press

Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points but turned to his teammates in overtime, and the Denver Nuggets ended a four-game losing streak with a 114-107 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night at Denver.

The game went into overtime when Nene’s tip-in off Anthony’s miss came a split-second too late.

Nene scored Denver’s first basket of the extra period, then Steve Blake scored three straight baskets and J.R. Smith scored five straight points before Blake scored again.

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The Trail Blazers, who ended an eight-game losing streak against Denver on Wednesday night, lost their seventh in a row at the Pepsi Center despite getting 25 points from Zach Randolph, 22 from Brandon Roy and 21 from Juan Dixon.

Denver’s Allen Iverson sat out his second straight game. He has a sprained ankle and flu.

Anthony, the league’s leading scorer, was snubbed by Western Conference coaches who picked the All-Star reserves. His hopes of getting his first All-Star selection rest in the hands of Commissioner David Stern, who will pick injury replacements. Stern suspended Anthony for 15 games for his role in the Nuggets’ brawl with the New York Knicks in December.

“Hopefully, David Stern can forgive and forget, put it behind us and we’ll see what happens,” Anthony said.

Toronto 103, Atlanta 91 -- The victory at Atlanta gave the Atlantic Division-leading Raptors a 24-23 record, the first time since 2001-02 that they have been over .500 this late in a season. Chris Bosh had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead Toronto in points and rebounds for the 29th time in 35 games.

Orlando 119, New Jersey 86 -- The Magic, which held All-Star Jason Kidd scoreless at Orlando, Fla., led by 22 points at halftime, by 30 in the middle of the third quarter and never by fewer than 25 in the fourth quarter. Kidd, who played 26 minutes, missed all five of his shots for his first scoreless game this season.

Golden State 102, Philadelphia 101 -- Al Harrington spun around Joe Smith in the lane for a left-handed layup for the winning basket with 1.2 seconds left, and the Warriors ended a six-game road losing streak.

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Cleveland 101, Charlotte 81 -- The Cavaliers didn’t take control of the game at Cleveland until midway through the second quarter, when they increased their lead to 17. The Bobcats played without guard Brevin Knight (abdominal tear), center Primoz Brezec (back spasms) and forward Sean May (sore knee).

Detroit 96, Milwaukee 86 -- The Pistons handed the Bucks, who are 2-14 since Jan. 1, their seventh consecutive road loss. The Bucks pulled to within 84-82 with 2:52 left, but Chauncey Billups and Rasheed Wallace made three-point baskets to give Detroit an eight-point lead at Auburn Hillls, Mich.

New Orleans 90, Minnesota 83 -- After the Timberwolves pulled to within 85-80 on Randy Foye’s three-point basket and Kevin Garnett’s jam off an offensive rebound, Chris Paul made four free throws in the final minute to clinch the victory at Oklahoma City.

Chicago 107, Seattle 101 -- Andres Nocioni had only five points through three quarters at Seattle. But after the SuperSonics took a 97-95 lead with 3:23 left, he made two free throws, then completed a three-point play to put the Bulls ahead for good, 102-97, with 1:22 left.

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