Monta Ellis scored 37 points, including a long 3-pointer in the final minute, and Dorell Wright nearly had his first triple-double as the Golden State Warriors held off Carmelo Anthony and the visiting Denver Nuggets, 116-114, on Wednesday night.
Denver (30-23) was trying for its eighth consecutive victory over Golden State (23-28).
Anthony, the subject of constant trade rumors including the latest that has him headed to the Los Angeles Lakers for Andrew Bynum, scored 29 points one game after tying a career high with 50.
J.R. Smith scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter, helping Denver rally. He also had seven rebounds and six assists.
Anthony got Denver to 113-112 with 1:11 remaining on a driving layup. Ellis answered with a 27-footer with 47 seconds left.
Smith made it 116-114, and the Nuggets had a chance to tie. But they did not call timeout and the ball wound up in the short corner with Nene, who had made his first six shots but missed the potential tying jumper just before the horn.
Wright had 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, sixth man Reggie Williams had 18 points and six assists and David Lee had 16 points and 12 rebounds for Golden State.
Al Harrington had 18 points and eight rebounds and Nene scored 17 for Denver.
Nuggets point guard Chauncey Billups missed the game with a strained left knee but said he hopes to play Thursday night against Dallas.
Denver | Golden State | |
Carmelo Anthony 29 | Scoring | Monta Ellis 37 |
Ty Lawson 6 | Assists | Dorell Wright 8 |
Al Harrington 8 | Rebounds | Andris Biedrins 12 |
Carmelo Anthony 5 | Free Throws Made | Dorell Wright 3 |
Anthony Carter 2 | Steals | Dorell Wright 4 |
Carmelo Anthony 2 | Blocks | David Lee 1 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Denver | 114 | 53.0 | 10-24 | 16-22 | 28 | 42 | 3 | 11 | 18 |
Golden State | 116 | 51.1 | 14-28 | 8-12 | 30 | 42 | 2 | 12 | 14 |