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Nuggets aim to cool scorching Suns

Jan 15, 2009 - 11:39 AM Phoenix (22-13) at Denver (26-13) 10:30 p.m. EST

DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets needed some last-second help during their last game to bounce back from a loss. The Phoenix Suns have not needed any assistance to continue their winning ways.

After claiming their sixth win in seven games, the Nuggets look to resume their run of success when they host the Phoenix Suns on Thursday.

Following a three-point loss to the Detroit Pistons on Friday that ended its five-game win streak, Denver took advantage of a questionable foul call with two seconds left to claim a controversial 99-97 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.

Dirk Nowitzki's driving dunk with 19 seconds remaining tied the game at 97-97 and the Nuggets called timeout and set up one final play. They made sure to get the ball to Chauncey Billups, who took off down the middle of the lane and threw up a shot, drawing light contact that brought a foul call on Mavericks guard Jason Terry with two seconds left.

Billups hit both free throws and finished with 23 points as Denver escaped with the win.

Phoenix earned its third straight win on Tuesday with a 107-102 triumph over the Atlanta Hawks.

The victory was the Suns' sixth in their last seven games and the closest decision of any decision over that span.