DENVER: The Denver Nuggets pulled away in the final five minutes to beat the Orlando Magic 111-94 in the NBA Tuesday, with Carmelo Anthony scoring 35 points. With Denver leading 92-91, Arron Afflalo's 3-pointer jump-started the Nuggets on a 19-3 run to close out the game. Anthony hit 14 of 21 shots from the floor and pulled down 11 rebounds. Nene had 10 points and 10 boards for the Nuggets, who improved to an NBA-best 11-1 at home. J.J. Redick scored a career-best 29 points for Orlando. Lakers 103, Wizards 89: In Washington, Kobe Bryant took over the game by scoring 16 of his 24 points in the third quarter, lifting Los Angeles over undermanned Washington. Bryant scored 12 straight Lakers points during a 17-2 third-quarter run that put the game away. The Lakers won for the fifth time in six games. Bryant's hot streak came shortly after a dubious NBA hat trick. Fouled while attempting a 3-pointer, he missed all three free throws. Andrew Bynum added seven points in his season debut for Los Angeles. Pistons 103, Hawks 80: In Auburn Hills, Michigan, Detroit ended a four-game losing streak by beating Atlanta. Richard Hamilton scored 24 points and Charlie Villanueva added 23 points and 11 rebounds for Detroit, which blew a 25-point lead in a loss to Toronto on Saturday. Josh Smith led the Hawks with 26 points. Detroit dominated the first half, leading from the first possession on its way to a 49-37 halftime lead. Hamilton had 20 points in the first half as the Pistons held Atlanta to 34 percent shooting. Bobcats 97, Raptors 91: In Charlotte, Tyrus Thomas hit the go-ahead jumper with just over a minute left, and Charlotte held on to down Toronto. Nazr Mohammed had 18 points and eight rebounds for the Bobcats, who needed reserves to play key roles, as Stephen Jackson was held to seven points before fouling out. Thomas, in his return after missing two games with a sore calf, scored 14 points and his mid-range jumper with 1:20 left put Charlotte ahead to stay. The Raptors wilted from there in their fifth loss in six games despite 17 points and nine assists from Jerryd Bayless. 76ers 82, Nets 77: In Newark, New Jersey, Philadelphia snapped an eight-game road losing streak by beating slumping New Jersey. Spencer Hawes scored a season-high 18 points and Jrue Holiday had 19 points as the 76ers ended their longest losing streak away from home since 2006. Brook Lopez scored 16 points for the Nets, who lost their eighth straight overall and sixth straight to the 76ers. Rockets 118, Kings 105: In Houston, Luis Scola had 23 points and 10 rebounds in three quarters, and Houston cruised past Sacramento. The Rockets used a big run late in the first half to take over, and outscored Sacramento 33-24 in the third quarter to put away the game. Scola was key in Houston's third-quarter dominance, scoring 14 points on 6-of-7 shooting and making both of his free throws. The Kings played without Tyreke Evans, who sat out with a sore left foot. They were led by DeMarcus Cousins and former Rockets forward Carl Landry, who had 17 points apiece. Warriors 108, Timberwolves 99: In Oakland, Golden State won its first game in eight by downing Minnesota. Reggie Williams had 22 of his 26 points in the second half, and Monta Ellis scored 34 points for the Warriors. Williams missed four of his first five shot attempts but warmed up after halftime, going 7 for 8 and making all four of his 3-pointers. It marked just the second time this season that Williams broke the 20-point barrier. Darko Milicic had a career-high 25 points and 11 rebounds for Minnesota.
