Nuggets win first game after brawl

The Nuggets didn’t need Carmelo Anthony early, but could’ve used him late.

With their leading scorer starting a 15-game suspension, the Denver Nuggets nearly blew a huge lead but held on to beat the Washington Wizards 117-108 on Monday night in Denver.

Nuggets coach George Karl said before the game he wasn’t going to change the team’s up-tempo style due to the suspensions.

Earl Boykins had a season-high 29 points – including 15 in the fourth quarter – and Marcus Camby grabbed 17 rebounds and scored a season-high 25 points.

Knicks 97, Jazz 96 (OT): At New York, Stephon Marbury’s layup just beat the buzzer and gave the undermanned, suspension-hit Knicks a stunning overtime victory over Utah.

New York – down to eight players because of suspensions and injuries – showed the right kind of fight. The Knicks bounced back from a dismal first quarter and knocked off the Northwest Division leaders.

Marbury had 29 points and eight assists.

Forgotten because of the fight was that Marbury had his best game of a rocky season Saturday night, scoring a season-high 31 points.

Mavericks 109, Kings 91: At Sacramento, Calif., Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Josh Howard scored 28 points as Dallas beat Sacramento for its fourth straight victory. Jason Terry added 22 for Dallas.

Nets 105, Warriors 97: At East Rutherford, N.J., Jason Kidd recorded his 81st career triple-double, Nenad Krstic had 26 points and New Jersey beat Golden State. Kidd finished with 10 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds as the Nets broke a two-game losing streak, winning for the fifth time in 16 games.

Heat 101, Hornets 99: At Miami, Dwyane Wade hit a fadeaway shot with 1.3 seconds left, capping a furious rally to lift Miami to a win against New Orleans. Wade scored 29 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter as Miami rallied from a double-digit deficit.