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Ellis helps Warriors get past Denver

Feb 10, 2011 - 8:08 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Monta Ellis finished with 37 points and hit a big three-pointer late in the game, helping the Golden State Warriors snap a seven-game skid against the Denver Nuggets with a 116-114 victory.

Dorell Wright added 23 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, while David Lee also filled the stat sheet with 16, 12 and six for Golden State, which has won four of five overall following a four-game slide.

Carmelo Anthony posted 29 points in Denver's fifth loss in seven games.

The star forward, mired in trade rumors all season, did not get an opportunity to touch the ball on the game's final possession. Instead it was Nene, who missed a 17-foot baseline jumper as the buzzer sounded. Nene had hit all six of his previous field goal attempts, ending with 17 points in defeat.

The Nuggets, playing without point guard Chauncey Billups (knee), never led in the second half, though they pulled within one point on two occasions late in the game, the last coming when Anthony's driving layup made it 113-112 with 1:11 showing.

Ellis countered with a three-pointer from the right wing, though J.R. Smith pulled up from 20 feet to make it a one-possession game with 32.8 ticks left.

Ellis missed from long range the next time down, and Denver, trailing by two, opted not to call a timeout. The ball was swung to Nene in the corner, and the center's shot was short to end the game.

"You don't know what they can possibly do in that setting," Warriors head coach Keith Smart said of Denver's final possession. "Sometimes you call a timeout and maybe the team can lock into what you may run, and I think sometimes you can get something better when you push the ball."

Nuggets head coach George Karl thought his team missed an opportunity when Ty Lawson dished to Nene.

"I thought he had a great opportunity to attack the rim, and just kind of deferred to Nene," Karl said. "Got a good shot, but didn't get a great shot."

The score remained close through most of the opening half, with the Nuggets leading 35-34 at the end of 12 minutes and the Warriors inching past for a 70-68 edge at the break.

Ellis had 22 points in the first half, while Anthony paced the Denver with 17.

Reggie Williams hit three of the Warriors' five three-pointers in the third quarter. They led by as many as 13, 97-84, but Denver went on an 8-3 run in the final minute to cut its deficit to 100-92 heading to the fourth.

Game Notes

Smith and fellow reserve Al Harrington chipped in 16 and 18 points, respectively, for the Nuggets. who were done in by 18 turnovers...Williams tallied 18 points for Golden State, which got 13 points from Stephen Curry.