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Iverson nets game-winning jumper as Nuggets top Blazers

Feb 5, 2008 - 7:43 AM PORTLAND, Oregon (Ticker) -- Allen Iverson's clutch play down the stretch lifted the Denver Nuggets to their third straight victory.

Iverson had 25 points, including the game-winning jumper with under one second to play in overtime, helping the Nuggets edge the Portland Trail Blazers, 105-103, on Monday.

Carmelo Anthony had a game-high 28 points and 15 rebounds in his second game back from an ankle injury for Denver, which was trailing by two points late in regulation.

"This is a big win for us," Anthony said. "We are both in the same division fighting it out with Utah. For us to come in on the road and get the win, it's big. It got a little testy out there, and I thought we should have gotten a few more calls, but we got the win so I won't complain."

Iverson put the Nuggets in front with a 3-pointer from the left wing, giving Denver a 100-99 lead with 39 seconds to play.

"It felt good because I hadn't been hitting much up to that point," Iverson said. "I've been in this league long enough to know when I struggle like I did, I learned to keep on playing and something good will happen. Obviously, it happened for me."

After a pair of empty possessions, Travis Outlaw was fouled on a jumper with 2.9 seconds remaining and made one of two free throws to tie the game at 100-100 and send the contest into overtime.

Anthony's layup tied the game at 103-103 with 2:21 to play in the extra period, and neither team could score until the final possession.

Iverson got the ball on the right wing, wound down the clock and drove to his left where he pulled up at the foul line and drilled the game-winner over Portland guard Jarrett Jack with nine-tenths of a second remaining.

"We wanted to see if we could get a lay-in with Kenyon (Martin)," Iverson said. "I just drove Jack hard left and I elevated. I saw he was still on the floor, so I got a real good look at it. By the time he jumped, I was already into my release. Fortunately, it went in."

Brandon Roy, who had 26 points, seven rebounds and eight assists to lead the Blazers, missed a desperation shot from the left wing as time expired.

"It's tough when you lose on a buzzer-beater like that," Roy said. "We played extremely tough but we just lost. Allen Iverson had a big shot. It's a tough pill to swallow."

Jack had 17 points, nine rebounds and nine assists for Portland, which has lost four of its past six contests - all at home.

"I don't know how the fans feel right now but we are trying our hardest," Roy said. "The ball just isn't going our way right now. Teams are going to play us good the rest of the season. I just keep telling the guys to keep their heads up and continue to play hard."

Portland missed their first 11 shots to start the game and fell behind 12-4 early. The Nuggets increased the lead to 33-17 in the second quarter before the Blazers answered with a 16-3 run.

Denver took a 50-44 advantage into halftime, but Portland opened the second half on an 11-0 spurt - keyed by consecutive 3-pointers from Martell Webster - to take a 55-50 lead with 9:46 left in the third.

Portland maintained a slim advantage for the remainder of the third until the final 1.9 seconds of the quarter when Anthony converted a three-point play and Iverson stole the inbounds pass near half court and drilled a running 3-pointer to tie the game at 78-78 entering the fourth.

Martin added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who were playing their second straight game without leading rebounder Marcus Camby due to a left knee contusion.

"Our guys had courage and guts," Denver coach George Karl said. "I thought the shot Iverson made at the end of the third quarter gave him a lift. It gave him some spirit. It wasn't a pretty offensive game for either team. It had a lot of playoff intensity."