Nuggets 120, Grizzlies 107
J.R. Smith scored 26 points and the shorthanded Denver Nuggets began life without Carmelo Anthony with a 120-107 victory over the visiting Memphis Grizzlies on Tuesday.
The Nuggets used only eight players as Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler and Timofey Mozgov, acquired from New York in the blockbuster trade involving Anthony on Monday, await physicals before they can play.
Denver finished the game with six players after Nene and Al Harrington fouled out in the final five minutes.
Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo scored 21 points apiece for the Nuggets (33-25), who moved into a fifth-place tie with Portland and New Orleans in the Western Conference, 1½ games ahead of Utah. Lawson also had seven assists, six steals and five rebounds.
Tony Allen had 26 points and eight rebounds, and O.J. Mayo scored 21 for the Grizzlies (31-27), who have lost four straight and fell one-half game behind Utah for eighth in the Western Conference.
The Nuggets never trailed and put the game away with a 14-0 run in the second quarter, led by Lawson’s six points, to go ahead 58-34 before they settled for a 61-42 halftime lead.
Denver led by as many as 27 in the second half.