Memphis, TN (Basketball News) - Earl Boykins scored a team-high 19 points off the bench as the Denver Nuggets won their second straight game with a 97-94 overtime victory against the slumping Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum.
Boykins went 2-of-6 from the floor, but netted 15-of-16 free throws to go along with four assists for Denver, which has won three of its last four games.
"We used our quickness to our advantage," said Boykins. "I’m upset that I missed (a free throw). I tried to get it back for us. Good free throw shooters can get to the line. That’s what you have to do by using your speed as an advantage. We were able to stay focused and get a big win. It was a game of runs."
Marcus Camby recorded his 12th double-double this season with 17 points and 15 rebounds. He also scored four of Denver’s six points in overtime.
Meanwhile, Andre Miller had 15 points, five boards and five assists, while Kenyon Martin and Carmelo Anthony contributed 12 points apiece in the victory.
Leading Memphis, which has dropped four straight games, was Brian Cardinal, who scored a season-high 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting, including 5-of-10 from three-point distance.
Shane Battier had 17 points and Mike Miller added 12 before both players fouled out in overtime.
Jason Williams went 6-of-13 from the floor en route to 13 points. He also dished out seven assists.
On the injury front, Memphis activated guard James Posey from the injured list prior to the game. Posey, who finished with five points in 22 minutes off the bench, missed a three-pointer that would have tied the game with less than 5 seconds remaining in overtime.
The Grizzlies continued to play without leading scorer Pau Gasol (foot injury) and Stromile Swift (ankle).
After each team scored a basket in the overtime session, Camby converted two free throws to put Denver up, 95-93, with 1:08 remaining. A defensive three- second violation gave Memphis a free throw, which Cardinal netted to cut the deficit to 95-94.
Boykins was then fouled and hit both free throws to put Denver up, 97-94, with 10.1 seconds remaining. Memphis’ last chance was Posey’s three-pointer that was not close.
The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair. On the strength of a 11-1 run, Denver pulled to within 78-77 with 5:34 remaining. However, Memphis answered with a 9-2 burst to stretch its advantage to 87-79.
After Denver surged to within two points, 87-85, Cardinal netted a layup to give Memphis a four-point cushion with 1:23 on the clock. After Denver’s DerMarr Johnson swished a three-pointer, Williams answered with a driving layup to give Memphis a 91-88 lead. Moments later, though, Williams would miss two free throws, which could have made it a two-possession game.
Following Williams’ missed free throws, Miller drove the lane, hit the runner and was fouled. He rattled home his free throw to tie the game 91-91 with 13.1 seconds in the game.
On the final possession of regulation, Williams missed a deep jump shot, sending the game into overtime.
It was a slow-moving, foul-filled first quarter as neither team shot the ball well. Denver connected on just two of its first 12 field goal attempts, Memphis went 0-for-6 from three-point distance and the teams combined for 19 free throws in the first quarter, which ended with Denver leading 20-19.
The Nuggets started the second quarter on an 18-7 run to extend their lead to 38-26 a little more than six minutes into the frame. The teams went into the locker room with Denver ahead, 50-40.
At intermission, the Nuggets were shooting 37.1 percent, but hit 24-of-28 free throws, while the Grizzlies hit 38.9 percent of their shots and went 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.
In the third quarter, Memphis entered down 10 points, but finished leading by nine, 71-62. Trailing 50-40 after two quarters, Memphis used a 10-2 spurt to pull within five, 58-53, midway through the third quarter and tied the game 59-59 after Battier hit a free throw with a little more than four minutes to play in the quarter. The Grizzlies closed the frame on a 12-3 run capped by Cardinal hitting back-to-back three-pointers.
Denver Nuggets 
Memphis Grizzlies 
