Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and rookie Gary Forbes had all seven of his points in the fourth quarter Monday as the host Denver Nuggets outlasted the Houston Rockets, 113-106, for their fourth straight victory.

Anthony, playing his second game since missing five contests following the death of his sister, also had 11 rebounds and five assists for the Nuggets (20-13), who have won four of their last five vs. the Rockets.

Forbes did his damage in a 3:35 span early in the fourth quarter when the Nuggets took the lead for good.
The teams were tied 52-52 at halftime and 81-81 after three quarters.

Luis Scola scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry had 21 for the Rockets (16-18), who have lost three of their last four games.

Nene had 16 points and 11 rebounds and Kenyon Martin added 11 and six as the Nuggets held a 50-42 advantage on the glass and improved to 18-6 when they score 100 or more points.

Arron Afflalo scored nine of his 15 points when the Nuggets went on a 19-7 third-quarter run to turn a six-point deficit into a six-point lead.