Denver 102, Utah 101
Ty Lawson scored 23 points and hit the go-ahead free throws and Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko missed a last-second layup as the Denver Nuggets recorded a 103-101 victory over the host Jazz on Thursday.
Utah’s Devin Harris hit a 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds left and Denver’s Kenyon Martin fumbled away the in-bounds pass. Kirilenko got the steal but missed the layup as time expired.
Arron Afflalo added 19 points as Denver (33-26) improved to 5-1 since trading All-Star Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks.
C.J. Miles scored 22 points for Utah (32-30), which lost its seventh straight home game.
Lawson hit two free throws with 1:41 remaining to give Denver a 97-96 lead. He hit two more free throws one minute later to five the Nuggets a three-point advantage.
Afflalo connected on a clutch 3-pointers with 11.4 seconds left to give Denver a 102-98 lead.
Harris had 21 points and nine assists and Al Jefferson had 19 points and 10 rebounds for Utah, which fell to 1-6 since Tyrone Corbin replaced Jerry Sloan as head coach.
Utah never led until ending the third quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 76-74 lead on two free throws by Miles.
Nene and Chris Andersen added 13 points apiece for Denver.