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 The win moved Denver (48-31) a full game ahead of the Warriors in the race for eighth place in the West 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.
Golden State (47-32) probably will need to win its final three games and hope Denver loses twice.
The Nuggets, who trailed by 16 points in the first quarter, took a 99-86 lead when Smith's two free throws capped a 7-0 spurt early in the fourth quarter. Carmelo Anthony's 3-pointer made it 104-90 with 7:52 to go and silenced the largest crowd in Warriors history.
The lead grew to 17 before the Warriors mounted one last charge, 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 added a 3-pointer to make it 112-101 with 2:06 to go. Anthony iced it with a dunk with 29.3 seconds left, giving him 25 points.
Both coaches 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.
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.
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The notoriously slow-starting Warriors had their best opening quarter in months, taking a 37-22 lead after one for their best start since leading Cleveland by 16 after one back on Dec. 23. That advantage was quickly erased when the Iverson and Smith found their stroke and the Warriors struggled early in the second.
Denver scored 19 straight points early in the quarter, getting nine from Iverson and eight from Smith, to take a 43-38 lead. The Warriors missed their first eight shots of the quarter before Harrington's dunk with 5:48 left in the half.
The Nuggets led 61-60 at the break on Iverson's jumper with 2.1 seconds to play.
Notes: Golden State F Brandan Wright and Denver F Nene missed the game with groin injuries. ... The Warriors set a franchise record with a crowd of 20,737. ... The Warriors have not won back-to-back games since taking three in a row March 7-12.
[Associated Press; By JOSH DUBOW]
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This
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