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Afflalo lifts Nuggets over Suns

Apr 7, 2012 - 5:48 AM Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Arron Afflalo scored 30 points, including a key three down the stretch, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns for the fifth straight time, 105-99, on Friday night.

Andre Miller hit the go-ahead free throws with 1:23 remaining, but Afflalo's three-pointer from the right corner on the next trip down the court that put the lid on Denver's winning return to the Pepsi Center.

Al Harrington had 23 points and Miller scored 15, both off the bench, as the Nuggets returned from a 3-4 road trip with their first home game since March 21.

The Suns committed 16 turnovers, while the Nuggets had just five.

"That's the key to the game right there," said Afflalo. "We've got a lot of playmakers, and mistakes are a part of basketball, but if you can limit them especially to a number like that, it'll put you in a good position."

Shannon Brown scored 18 points, Jared Dudley had 17 and Steve Nash contributed 14 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who started the day one game behind the Nuggets for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference, but had a three-game win streak stopped to remain on the outside looking in.

Denver squandered a seven-point lead early in the fourth quarter after the Suns used a 13-1 run to take the lead.

Michael Redd scored seven of his 15 points during the surge, which gave the Suns a 92-87 advantage.

Later, the Nuggets would close the game on a 13-2 run to win it, including scoring the game's final nine points.

After Miller's free throws finally put Denver back on top, Dudley airballed a three-point try at the other end and Marcin Gortat also missed after getting the offensive rebound.

Afflalo then knocked down his back-breaking three with 48 seconds left.

"If a guys gets 30 points," said Suns coach Alvin Gentry, "I doubt you guarded him the way you wanted to, unless it's Kobe Bryant."

Earlier, the Suns had a 29-21 lead after the first quarter but the Nuggets came back to tie it, 52-52, at halftime. Denver then carried a 78-75 lead into the fourth.

Game Notes

The Nuggets won the first meeting this season, 109-92, in Denver on Feb. 14. The teams will meet again in Phoenix on April 21...The Nuggets are headed back on the road to play at Golden State on Saturday in the opener of a home-and- home with the Warriors...The Suns went 2-1 on a three-game road trip and will return home to play the Lakers on Saturday before going back on the road for four games.