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'Melo goes for 36 as Nuggets drop Pacers

Jan 24, 2011 - 6:33 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony hit six three-pointers in the third quarter and poured in 36 points for the game, leading the Denver Nuggets to a 121-107 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

Nene had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Al Harrington scored 16 off the bench for the Nuggets, who have won five of their last seven.

Denver finished a three-game homestand 2-1 and will head out on the road for a five-game jaunt that begins Tuesday in Washington.

Tyler Hansbrough had 27 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Pacers, while Paul George scored 17 off the bench.

"When you have no low post presence you're going to struggle...and we're struggling in that category," Pacers head coach Jim O'Brien said.

Indiana saw its losing streak extended to five games and finished 0-4 on a road trip that also included games against the LA Clippers, Golden State and Portland.

The Pacers controlled the first quarter, leading by as many as seven points on the way to a 30-27 lead at the buzzer.

But the momentum flipped in the second quarter and remained in Denver's favor the rest of the way.

Anthony and Harrington hit back-to-back jumpers to start the quarter, giving Denver the lead. Jeff Foster scored at the other end to move the Pacers back in front -- but it was their last lead of the game.

The Nuggets got nine points apiece from Nene and Ty Lawson in the second quarter, shooting 54 percent. They went ahead by as many as 10 on a late Anthony dunk and carried a 59-51 advantage into halftime.

Denver turned it on in the third quarter, quickly extending its lead to 15 with an 11-4 burst capped by one of Anthony's three-pointers (he was 6-of-7 in the quarter).

"They just kept leaving me open, and the three-ball was falling," Anthony said.

The Nuggets' lead ballooned to 21 points on another Anthony three that made it 93-72 with 1:03 remaining in the quarter.

The Pacers scored the next six points, pulling within 93-78 heading into the fourth, but they wouldn't be closer than that until the final margin. Denver's lead was as high as 25 down the stretch.

Game Notes

The Nuggets outshot Indiana 51-43 percent...This was the only NBA game on Sunday...Denver has won 11 of the past 14 meetings between the teams.