Memphis, TN (My Sportsbook) - Carmelo Anthony netted 13 of his 35 points in the fourth quarter, including the go-ahead three-point play in the final minute, and the
Denver Nuggets overcame a 17-point second half deficit to upend the reeling Grizzlies, 111-109, in an ugly loss for Memphis at FedEx Forum
J.R. Smith hit five three-pointers, on his way to a 21-point effort for Denver, which extended a pair of winning streaks in logging its fourth victory overall and seventh in a row from Memphis.
The Nuggets were able to keep their slim lead at a half-game over Portland for the Northwest Division lead as the Trail Blazers downed Indiana earlier on Wednesday.
Nene chipped in 19 points and Chauncey Billups notched 18 with a game-best 12 assists as the Nuggets reversed their fortunes away from the Pepsi Center having dropped six straight road tests entering Wednesday.
Denver's last road victory came in Philadelphia on February 18.
Rudy Gay scored 30 for Memphis, which lost for the 14th time in its last 16 games. O.J. Mayo and Hakim Warrick had 16 points apiece and Mike Conley dished 10 helpers with eight points in the loss.
The Grizzlies led by as many as 17 in the third behind a 20-6 run through the middle stages of the frame. Mayo sank a three-ball and Gay completed a three- point play to cap the stretch with a shade over five minutes left to extend the margin to 79-62. Anthony was the only answer for Denver on the other end with a pair of field goals.
The Nuggets put together a nice surge from there to close the quarter down 10, 91-81, as Smith hit a trio of three-point shots and a running layup to provide the closing margin with 35 ticks on the clock.
A three-ball from Smith early in the fourth dropped for a nine-point Denver deficit and Anthony drained a triple to cut the lead to 100-92 a short time later.
A Billups three-pointer made it 100-95 just past the midway point and his two free throws and jumper a moments later was followed by a game-tying three from Anthony as the teams were knotted at 104 with 2:47 on the clock.
Mayo got to the rim for a deuce with 50.3 ticks left for a two-point edge but Anthony muscled to the hoop on the other end for two and drew a foul from Quinton Ross.
The three-point play with 33.2 seconds left allowed for a 109-108 lead and after Mayo had his offering blocked by Kenyon Martin on the ensuing possession, Anthony hit two at the line for a 111-108 game with 5.8 ticks left.
Marc Gasol was sent to the line, made one and purposely clanked the second, but Anthony Carter secured the board and threw the ball down-court as time expired.
Memphis jumped out to a 35-26 advantage after 12 minutes and Denver was only able to shave three points off that margin, trailing 59-53, at the break despite ending on a 15-8 run.
Game Notes
Denver has not lost to the Grizzlies in nearly two years and took a pair of encounters earlier this season...Center Darko Milicic (back) was scratched for the Grizzlies... Memphis fell to 12-23 at home and has dropped five straight as the host...Denver improved to 18-17 on the road.
