Nuggets 101, Bucks 90: Kenneth Faried racked up 26 points and J.J. Hickson added 14 points and 10 rebounds as visiting Denver cruised to a wire-to-wire win over Milwaukee to snap a five-game skid.

Wilson Chandler scored 15 points and Timofey Mozgov added 14 points and nine boards off the bench for the Nuggets, who had dropped their previous five contests by an average of 23 points. Randy Foye contributed 12 points and 10 assists while filling in at point guard as the Nuggets were without Ty Lawson (rib) and awaiting the arrival of Aaron Brooks, who was acquired from Houston on Thursday in exchange for swingman Jordan Hamilton.

Caron Butler led the way with 17 points for Milwaukee, which used its 24th different starting lineup this season. Ersan Ilyasova collected 14 points and 11 rebounds and Nate Wolters and John Henson each scored 12 points as the Bucks were denied their first back-to-back wins of the season.

The Nuggets got off to a hot start, building a 31-22 lead after one quarter and never letting the Bucks close the gap completely. Faried and the rest of Denver's big men dominated inside, racking up 48 points in the paint and consistently beating Milwaukee's post players down the floor for easy baskets.

The Bucks tightened up on defense in the second quarter and pulled within two early in the third, but Faried scored two buckets during a quick 6-0 spurt to quiet the rally. Butler pulled Milwaukee within 78-73 with 9:53 left, but the Bucks didn't make another field goal for 6 1/2 minutes as Denver pulled away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Nuggets have won eight straight meetings overall and eight of the last 11 in Milwaukee. … The Bucks were short-handed in the backcourt after dealing Gs Luke Ridnour and Gary Neal to Charlotte on Thursday in exchange for G Ramon Sessions and F Jeff Adrien. PG Brandon Knight also was out with a cut on his right heel. … The Nuggets also traded PG Andre Miller to Washington in a three-team deal that netted them PF Jan Vesely. Miller has not played since the team suspended him Jan. 2 following an altercation with coach Brian Shaw.