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'Melo scores 23, Nuggets top Wizards

Jan 26, 2011 - 5:13 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony finished with 23 points and seven rebounds as the Denver Nuggets ended a three-game road losing streak, topping the Washington Wizards, 120-109, at Verizon Center.

"Tonight was a big game for us," Anthony said. "We have been losing games but I don't think we are far from winning games on the road. It's a big step for us to come in here and win this game tonight."

Nene and Al Harrington both chipped in 21 points while Arron Afflalo added 18 points for Denver, which began a five-game road trip Tuesday. Ty Lawson and Chauncey Billups finished with 17 and 15 points, respectively.

Nick Young led the Wizards with 26 points. Andray Blatche scored 25 to go along with nine rebounds and JaVale McGee supplied 11 points and seven rebounds for Washington, which has dropped two-straight and four of five overall.

Rookie John Wall dished out a game-high 13 assists to go with 10 points in the loss.

"Tough game tonight," Wizards forward Rashard Lewis said. "No defense in the end."

Denver took a 96-79 lead into the fourth quarter. However, a late 8-1 Washington run, beginning on a Yi Jianlian dunk with 3:36 remaining, cut the Washington deficit down to nine, 114-105, just over the two-minute mark.

Afflalo responded with a driving layup on the next possession to end the streak, and Denver reserve guard Melvin Ely made 1-of-2 from the line with 1:03 remaining to expand the Nuggets' lead to 117-105.

A Young jumper and two Blatche free throws cut the Nuggets' lead down to eight inside the final minute, but the spurt was too late as Harrington drilled a three-pointer with 3.4 ticks remaining to account for the final margin.

"Every time we chipped away [Harrington] built the lead right back up," Wall said. "It stopped every run."

Denver jumped out to an early 24-10 lead with 4:26 left in the first, but the Wizards responded with a 16-7 run to end the quarter. Billups scored 12 points in the quarter and the Nuggets carried a 33-26 lead into the second.

Washington shot 72.2 percent from the field in the second quarter, but Denver made 11-of-20 from the field, and 10-of-13 from the line, to take a 68-56 lead into halftime.

The Wizards came out flat in the third quarter, shooting 7-of-19 from the field, and the Nuggets widened their margin to 96-79 entering the final stanza.

Game Notes

The Nuggets are now 6-13 as the visitors this season...Denver will also visit Detroit, Cleveland, Philadelphia and New Jersey on its road trip...The Nuggets have won seven of eight in this series...Nene grabbed a team-high nine rebounds while Billups dished out six assists...Yi finished with 10 points in a reserve role...The Wizards held a 32-8 margin in fastbreak points.