Nuggets 113, Timberwolves 100
Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points on 9-of-13 shooting and Aaron Afflalo added 22 points as the Denver Nuggets got past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 113-100, on Saturday.
Chauncey Billups chipped in 21 points and 13 assists for the Nuggets, who shot 54 percent from the floor to bounce back from a home loss to Utah on Friday.
Denver was up 72-58 after Billups drained a 3-pointer with 9:06 left in the third and held onto a double-digit edge until the Timberwolves made their run, closing with a 12-4 burst to pull within 87-84 heading into the final frame.
Minnesota hung around for most of the fourth quarter, sitting within four points with three minutes to play. But J.R. Smith hit a jumper and Billups scored seven points over the final 2:18 to help the Nuggets pull away.
Kevin Love collected 18 points and 19 rebounds for his 36th straight double-double and Michael Beasley scored 23 for the Timberwolves, who have dropped three straight and nine of 10.