’Melo, Nuggets down Grizzlies

Denver is now finally starting to click with both Anthony and Iverson on the roster, as the Nuggets are just 3-6 with the explosive duo in the lineup at the same time.

Nene posted a career-high tying 27 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets, who improved to 13-13 on the road. Marcus Camby added eight points and 13 boards for the Nuggets, who will return to Denver on Wednesday to open a three-game homestand against Orlando.

Pau Gasol notched 21 points and 11 rebounds for Memphis, which has dropped four of its last five. Mike Miller also scored 21 points, and Rudy Gay netted 18. Hakim Warrick contributed 15 points off the bench for Memphis, which stays home where it is 11-18 to host Utah on Wednesday.

Denver attained an early advantage on a 10-2 spurt capped by an Iverson jumper with 7:36 remaining for a 12-6 lead. The Nuggets led 30-25 heading into the second.

Memphis closed the second quarter on a 9-4 spurt snapped by an Iverson free throw with no time remaining that edged Denver a 55-54 halftime advantage.

The Grizzlies started pulling away on a 13-2 burst down the third-quarter stretch capped by four straight Miller jumpers, three of which were from beyond the arc. The Nuggets responded with an 11-6 spurt, though, capped by Anthony’s trey with two ticks left to trail 83-82 heading into the fourth.

Memphis had a chance to rally, but Gasol missed on a jumper and Miller and Gay both missed on three-point attempts in the final minute.

Blake converted a pair of free throws with 4.4 seconds on the clock for a three-possession game, and Gay’s three-pointer off the backboard with 1.2 seconds left was too little too late.

Game Notes

Denver owns a 2-1 lead in the series so far this season, with the previous two games taking place in Colorado. The clubs will conclude their four-game set on April 14 in Memphis...The Nuggets have won eight of the last 10 in the series, but have lost six of nine as the visitor.