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 Then it's quickly back to work. Because if anything has been proven in the power-packed Western Conference this season, it's that teams can't rest on their laurels for even the shortest amount of time.
Allen Iverson scored 33 points and J.R. Smith provided the energy with 24 points off the bench to help Denver take control of the race for the final playoff spot in the West with a 114-105 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Thursday night.
"When you live a day or two under stress and intensity it's good to win and it's good to be relieved," Karl said. "We get to enjoy this for a day. But we have to get back and try to beat Utah."
The win moved Denver (48-31) a game ahead of the Warriors in the race for eighth place with only three games remaining. The Nuggets also control the tiebreaker, meaning they can clinch their fifth straight playoff berth by winning two of their final three games.
The closing stretch begins with a trip to Utah on Saturday, followed by home games against Houston and Memphis to end the season. But the Nuggets know they are in control and don't need to count on getting any outside help to make it back to the postseason.
"Everybody knew what was at stake," Iverson said. "It's easy for players to say it's just another game. But everybody knows it wasn't just another game. It was a game that both teams felt they had to have."
Now Golden State (47-32) probably will need to win its final three games and hope Denver loses twice.
"They're in the catbird seat right now," Warriors coach Don Nelson said. "We've got a big problem as far as making the playoffs at this particular time. We're going to need a lot of luck and probably have to win out."
In Thursday night's other NBA games, Dallas beat Utah 97-94 and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 106-78.
The Nuggets erased the early deficit by scoring 19 straight points in the second quarter and built the lead from there, putting the back-to-back losses to Sacramento and Seattle from last weekend behind them.
The lead grew to 17 before the Warriors mounted one last run, scoring nine straight points to cut it to 107-99 on Kelenna Azubuike's 3-pointer with just over 4 minutes remaining.
Golden State had two chances to cut into the lead more before Iverson's jumper got the lead back to 10. Iverson then hit the 3-pointer that made it 112-101 with 2:06 to go, icing the most important game of the season.
Both teams talked about how this game had a playoff feel to it. The yellow "We Believe" placards that were prevalent during the Warriors' playoff run a year ago were taped to each seat. But the Warriors have not been playing with the same energy down the stretch this season as they did during their memorable playoff run a year ago.
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They have lost nine of the past 16 games in a lackluster finish to their best season in 14 years. Golden State committed an uncharacteristically high 18 turnovers, missed nine of 24 free throws and got poor shooting nights from Stephen Jackson and Baron Davis.
Davis had a triple-double with 20 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, but shot only 9-for-25. Jackson had 18 points on 5-for-17 shooting. Monta Ellis led the way with 29 points and Al Harrington added 20.
"It was just a combination of turnovers, missed open shots, some missed layups and them jumping out and getting easy buckets from missed defensive assignments," Davis said. "You can't have all that and expect to win."
Carmelo Anthony added 25 points for Denver.
Mavericks 97, Jazz 94
In Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki swished a 3-pointer with 0.9 seconds left, breaking a tie and giving Dallas a victory over Utah that also clinched a playoff berth.
Dallas got in on the combination of the victory and Golden State losing to Denver.
Nowitzki scored 32 points for the second time in five games since returning from knee and ankle injuries. The victory wasn't sealed until Deron Williams, who banked in a tying 3-pointer with 5.8 seconds left, missed a long 3 with Nowitzki flying at him.
Lakers 106, Clippers 78
Luke Walton scored 13 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers beat their Staples Center co-tenants to win their fifth in six games.
The victory moved the Lakers (54-25) within 1 1/2 games of the Western Conference-leading New Orleans Hornets entering Friday night's showdown between the teams. The Hornets play three of their last four games on the road while the Lakers finish with three at home.
Kobe Bryant scored 16 points for the Lakers, who blew the game open by outscoring the Clippers 32-11 to finish the third quarter and start the fourth for a 94-67 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left.
[Associated Press; By JOSH DUBOW]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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