• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Allen, Heat edge Nuggets

Nov 4, 2012 - 3:12 AM Miami, FL (Sports Network) - Ray Allen made his first big contribution to the Heat just three games in, hitting a go-ahead 3-pointer while being fouled with 6.7 seconds remaining to give Miami a 119-116 victory over the Denver Nuggets at American Airlines Arena.

After Andre Iguodala's deep jumper had given Denver a one-point lead, LeBron James found Allen in his usual position with the game on the line, spotting up in the left corner and draining a 3-pointer just as Corey Brewer collided into him on his follow-through.

"I got to the corner, Brewer...turned his head just one split second and LeBron found me," recalled Allen of the deciding play.

Allen's sixth 3-pointer and ensuing free throw resulted in a 119-116 lead, and Danilo Gallinari's try from 10 feet beyond the three-point line was off the mark, as the Heat rebounded from a 20-point loss to the Knicks on Friday.

Chris Bosh scored the most points he's had in a Heat uniform (40) and James finished one rebound shy of a triple-double, finishing with 20 points and 11 assists.

The Nuggets, despite having seven players score in double-figures, fell to 0-3 for the first time since 2006-07.

Iguodala and Kenneth Faried each netted 22 points, while Andre Miller totaled 17 points off the bench.

"It's going to take some more games," Iguodala said of getting the Nuggets on track. "Guys played with a lot of confidence tonight. ... We need the same aggression every night."

Miller converted a three-point play just before the third quarter ended for a 91-87 lead, and the Nuggets stayed in front until Mario Chalmers made a layup and fed Bosh for a dunk and a 109-108 edge with 3:12 remaining.

Iguodala and Gallinari each made buckets around two James free throws to give the Nuggets the lead again, only to have James answer with a bucket inside.

Iguodala missed a runner in the lane, and Allen fought for a tough rebound, passed to Bosh while on the ground and Bosh fed a cherry-picking Dwyane Wade at the other end for a lay-in with 1:13 to play.

A Faried putback followed by James' missed jumper gave the ball back to Denver with time winding down, and Iguodala stepped just inside the three-point line on the left wing and made the jumper with 14.1 ticks left.

There were 23 lead changes, 12 in the first half. Mike Miller hit a buzzer- beating 3-pointer in the first quarter to give Miami a 35-34 lead, and 26 points in the paint in the second quarter helped the Nuggets enter halftime holding a 66-64 edge.

Game Notes

Denver owned a 72-40 advantage in the paint and had 24 more second-chance points ... Miami had just eight turnovers one day after committing 21 ... Wade had 14 points on 5-of-12 shooting ... JaVale McGee logged 16 points and nine rebounds for Denver ... Faried pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds ... Gallinari shot just 3-of-17 for 13 points.