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Nuggets survive final play to edge Jazz

Mar 4, 2011 - 7:50 AM Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) - Ty Lawson scored 23 points and hit several key free throws down the stretch, as the Denver Nuggets escaped EnergySolutions Arena with a 103-101 win over the Utah Jazz after Andrei Kirilenko missed a potential game-tying layup at the buzzer.

A Devin Harris three-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining pulled the Jazz within two, and Kenyon Martin bobbled the inbound pass into the hands of Kirilenko, who took a dribble before pivoting toward the basket.

The dribble allowed Martin to disrupt Kirilenko as he went up, causing the Russian to loose control of the ball as the buzzer sounded, sending Utah to a seventh straight home loss.

"[Martin's] hand was on the ball. It wasn't a foul, but just [a pretty good] play. I didn't really get the ball," recalled Kirilenko.

Arron Afflalo ended with 19 points, including a pivotal three-pointer in crunch time, while Nene and Chris Andersen both scored 13 points for Denver, which has won five of six since trading away Carmelo Anthony.

Harris ended with 21 points and nine assists, Al Jefferson posted 19 points and 10 rebounds, and C.J. Miles scored 22 points off the bench for the Jazz, who have lost three straight and eight of nine overall.

Lawson drew a questionable foul on Harris with 1:41 on the clock and made both free throws to give Denver a 97-96 edge.

The teams traded turnovers, and Jefferson was short on a 16-footer from the left wing with under a minute remaining.

After exchanging free throws, Afflalo was left open and drained a three-ball for a 102-98 edge with 11.4 seconds to go.

"I think you are going to see Arron take more shots for us at the end of games," Nuggets head coach George Karl said.

Raja Bell then missed from long range before Raymond Felton made 1-of-2 at the foul line to set the stage for the memorable finish.

The Nuggets scored the game's first seven points and stayed in front until the end of the third quarter.

They led 30-23 at the end of the first, 58-51 at halftime and were on top 74-66 following a Martin jumper with 3:09 remaining in the third.

The Jazz turned it around and scored the next 10 points, taking their first lead, 76-74, on two Miles free throws to end the quarter.

Game Notes

This is Utah's longest home losing streak since a 12-game slide from Feb. 15- March 29, 1982...The Jazz are 1-7 under new head coach Tyrone Corbin, who signed a multi-year contract extension on Wednesday...Martin finished with 11 points for Denver, which outscored the Jazz at the foul line, 23-10...Kirilenko tallied 12 points, five assists and three blocks in defeat.