Nuggets top Nets for fifth in a row

The Denver Nuggets have found a third option to go along with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson: defense.

Carmelo Anthony scored 12 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter and the Nuggets won their fifth in a row Tuesday night with a 94-90 decision over the New Jersey Nets.

“The most important thing for us is that we are playing defense,” Iverson said. “We feel like we can score with Melo and myself and other players. We can put the ball in the basket, but we also have to stop people.”

The Nuggets came up with two big defensive plays in the final minutes while clinging to a 93-90 lead. They forced Vince Carter into a turnover with 45 seconds to go and then got a somewhat unexpected stop when Carter missed a three-point shot that would have tied the score with 12 seconds to play.

It marked the first time this season Denver has won a game (1-21) when scoring less than 99 points. The Nuggets moved into a virtual tie with the Lakers for the sixth playoff spot in the Western Conference.

“Melo and A.I. have defensive talents,” Nuggets Coach George Karl said. “Are they going to be all-defensive team? Probably not. All we want is a focus and what I call no cheap possessions. That’s what we’re seeing. Most of the time, if you score on us, you’ve earned it.”

The Nets had their chances, particularly Carter, who had 29 points and nine rebounds. He came off Mikki Moore’s screen in the closing seconds and had a perfect look on his game-tying attempt.