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Nuggets down Sonics, break three-game skid

Apr 2, 2007 - 5:53 AM SEATTLE (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets needed to start playing like a playoff team.

Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points and Allen Iverson added 26 as the Nuggets pulled away late for a 114-103 win over the Seattle Supersonics.

Linas Kleiza added 16 points off the bench for Denver, which never trailed. They hold a two-game lead over Golden State (35-39) for the eighth and final spot in the Western Conference playoff race.

"I just worry about us, not the standings. We just wanted to get a win," Iverson said. "We weren't thinking about who we are playing."

Iverson added seven assists and Anthony shook off a right ankle injury to shoot 11-for-20 from the floor to trigger a 55 percent (41-of-74) shooting effort for Denver, which overcame 17 turnovers.

"I think our guys really showed where we are at and where we need to be," Denver coach George Karl said. "Other than the turnovers I was happy with the whole game tonight. We were somewhat in control of that game and I thought we fought with pride."

Following the fourth of Watson's six 3-pointers that narrowed the gap to 79-78 late in the third quarter, Iverson and Anthony combined for 21 of the Nuggets' final 35 points to keep the Sonics at bay.

"We fought back again, we just couldn't get over the hump and hold the lead," Seattle coach Bob Hill said. "I thought Carmelo and Allen played like they're supposed to. They hit big shots when they had to and hit free throws when they had to. It was a must win game for them."

Despite being outrebounded 23-8 in the first half, the Sonics trimmed a 10-point first quarter deficit to three on the strength of Watson's 10 second-quarter points.

"I've never seen a stat sheet like that before," Seattle coach Bob Hill said. "I've never seen a single-digit total at halftime. They pounded us on the boards pretty good. It was a weird first half."

"When you play them, you have to rebound and we outrebounded them by seven just six days ago. We couldn't jump with them tonight."

Watson scored a career-high 28 points for Seattle, which had its three-game winning streak snapped.