Los Angeles - Carmelo Anthony was unstoppable and the Denver Nuggets stayed unbeatable at home. Anthony erupted for a career-high 50 points, including a pair of free throws with 16.7 seconds left, and the Nuggets edged the
New York Knicks 128-125 Friday night for their 17th straight regular-season home win.
"You are right there and you want to get it," said Anthony, who eclipsed his previous personal-best by a point. "I have been there a lot of times and never got over the hump, so it feels good."
"It was a tough game on our home court and they would not go away," the All-Star forward added. "I'm just glad we really pulled this one out."
Chauncey Billups scored 32, and JR Smith added 17 for Denver (12-4) which hasn't lost at Pepsi Centre since last March.
"'Melo, is as you know, one of the best players in the world, "Billups said. "If you got him going like that then you got to ride him."
Al Harrington poured in 41 points, David Lee had 23 with 11 rebounds for New York (3-13) losers of four in a row.
"We played really well. I think we found a formula we can stick to," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Obviously, we played a really good team. When Carmelo gets in that zone he makes it tough because so much attention goes to him that guys like Chauncey and JR got away from us."
In a good old-fashioned shootout, the Nuggets led by six, until Harrington converted a three-point play with 38 seconds left, drawing the Knicks to within 123-120. Billups answered with a reverse layup, however.
The Knicks kept coming, though. Wilson Chandler drained a three-pointer and the lead was down to 125-123 with 18 ticks to go. But Anthony sank two free throws for a four-point edge.
Harrington's layup made it 127-125, but Smith sank the second of two free throws opening the door for the Knicks to tie. Larry Hughes received the ball in the left corner, but fumbled it away as the final buzzer sounded.
"It was a great game for both teams," Harrington said. "We didn't control the game but we were right there. Denver had just a little but more than we did."
Elsewhere: Sacramento Kings 109, New Jersey Nets 96 Rookie Tyreke Evans and Slovenian Beno Udrih scored 21 points apiece as the Kings (7-8) handed the winless Nets their 16th consecutive loss.
Another road loss against the defending NBA champion LA Lakers on Sunday night, and the Nets will match the 1988-89 Miami Heat and 1998-99 LA Clippers for the worst start in NBA history.
Phoenix Suns 120, Minnesota Timberwolves 95 Jason Richardson scored 22 points, Grant Hill added 17 and the league-best Suns (13-3) sent the host Timberwolves (1-15) to their 15th straight loss.
Dallas Mavericks 113, Indiana Pacers 92 German wunderkind Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and the visiting Mavericks (12-4) pounded the Pacers (6-8) for their seventh win in eight games.
Charlotte Bobcats 94,
Cleveland Cavaliers 87 Gerald Wallace had 31 points with 14 rebounds, and the Bobcats (6-9) won their third in a row despite failing to hit a field goal for nearly the final 10 minutes.
LeBron James scored 25 points for visiting Cleveland (11-5) which received 11 points and eight boards from Shaquille O'Neal back after missing the last six games with a left shoulder strain.
Atlanta Hawks 100,
Philadelphia 76ers 86 Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 24 points in the final quarter, Mike Bibby added 21 and the visiting Hawks snapped a two-game losing streak while sending the injury-depleted Sixers (5-11) to their fifth straight loss.
Boston Celtics 116, Toronto Raptors 103 Ray Allen scored 20 points, Paul Pierce and Kendrick Perkins had 18 apiece, leading the host Celtics (12-4) to their third straight victory.
Chris Bosh topped Toronto (7-10) with 20 points and 13 rebounds.
Washington Wizards 94, Miami Heat 84 Antawn Jamison scored 24 points, Nick Young added 22 and the Wizards limited Dwyane Wade to 18, to end a six-game skid against the host Heat (9-6).
LA Clippers 104, Detroit Pistons 96 Chris Kaman scored 26 points, Al Thornton added 12 of his 19 in the final quarter, helping the visiting Clippers (7-10) stop a 13-game skid against the Pistons.
Swedish rookie Jonas Jerebko scored a career-best 22 points in Detroit's (5-11) seventh straight loss.
San Antonio Spurs 92,
Houston Rockets 84 Tim Duncan had 21 points with 12 rebounds, Antonio McDyess added 15 with 14 boards and the Spurs (8-6) earned their first road win of the season in five tries.
Argentine Luis Scola led Houston (8-8) with 18 points and 12 rebounds
Oklahoma City Thunder 108,
Milwaukee Bucks 90 Kevin Durant collected 33 points with 12 rebounds, Russell Westbrook scored 20, and the Thunder (9-7) rolled to their sixth win in nine games.
Memphis Grizzlies 106, Portland Trail Blazers 96 Zach Randolph scored 21, Spaniard Marc Gasol added 20 with 15 rebounds and the visiting Grizzlies (6-10) won for the fifth time in their last seven games.
Brandon Roy led Portland (12-6) with 26 points, nine assists and eight rebounds
