Published November 20, 2014
Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 30 points and reserve Al Harrington added 18 to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Los Angeles Clippers 111-104 on Friday night.
Arron Afflalo added 16 points and Shelden Williams and Chauncey Billups had 12 each for the Nuggets, who have beaten the Clippers in 12 of their last 14 meetings, including eight straight at the Pepsi Center.
Blake Griffin had 26 points and 10 rebounds and Eric Gordon scored 21 points for the Clippers, who have lost five of six to start the season.
Both teams are coping with injuries to key players.
The Nuggets' frontcourt has been depleted by injuries with center Nene missing a second consecutive game because of a left groin strain. Forwards Chris Andersen and Kenyon Martin are still recovering from offseason knee surgeries and are not expected to make their season debuts until early December and early January, respectively.
The Clippers were without point guard Baron Davis for a third game because of a sore left knee. He remains day to day.
Trailing by a point at halftime, the Nuggets used an 11-2 run capped by Harrington's 3-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter to take an 85-71 lead.
The Clippers fought back within 93-87 when Gordon made one of two free throws with 6:42 remaining but the Nuggets scored the next six points to go back in front by 12 points with 5:15 left. The Clippers got no closer than eight points the rest of the way with Anthony hitting three baskets in the last couple of minutes. Harrington was at his best in the fourth quarter, too, scoring nine points in the period.
With both teams racing up and down the court and putting up shots at a torrid pace, the Clippers took a 28-24 lead after the first quarter and opened up a 10-point lead on Griffin's three-point play with 4:08 left in the second quarter.
The Nuggets outscored the Clippers 12-3 leading up to the break, getting a short jumper from Harrington in the final moments to pull within 54-53 at halftime.
NOTES: Nene's two-game absence due to a groin strain ended a career-long streak of 94 consecutive starts in regular season games. ... Afflalo has scored at least 10 points in each of the Nuggets' first five games. ... The Nuggets have won 50 straight regular season home games when holding a lead entering the fourth quarter. ... The Clippers last won in Denver 105-87 on Jan. 27, 2006. ... Clippers first-year coach Vinny Del Negro played under Nuggets coach George Karl while with the Milwaukee Bucks from 1998-2000.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/anthony-gets-30-in-nuggets-win-over-clippers