NBA Game Summary - Seattle at Denver

Denver, CO (Basketball News) - Carmelo Anthony scored 24 points and Earl Boykins had 23 on 8-of-11 shooting as Denver cruised past slumping Seattle, 121-105, at the Pepsi Center.

Andre Miller dished out a season-high 17 assists and netted 14 points to help the Nuggets to their seventh straight win and 13th triumph in 14 games. Nene contributed 16 points in 21 minutes off the bench for Denver, which continues to trail Houston by one-half game for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff picture.

"Since the All-Star break, everybody (on Denver) has been playing well," said Miller. "Our confidence level is high, guys are happy. But we are not satisfied with where we are at."

Ray Allen poured in 32 points for the injury-riddled SuperSonics, who have lost four in a row and missed another opportunity to clinch the Northwest Division. Ronald Murray added 20 points and Damien Wilkins had 14 in the setback.

Seattle was once again without star forward Rashard Lewis (foot contusion) and key reserve Antonio Daniels (knee), while forward Danny Fortson also sat out the contest with a sprained left shoulder.

"I don’t know what it is, but something good is going to come out of these injuries," Allen remarked.

The Nuggets took control early, as a 13-2 run capped by DerMarr Johnson’s three-pointer with 6:43 left in the first quarter gave the hosts a 19-7 lead.

Seattle got to within 34-25 on Luke Ridnour’s jumper with 1:10 left in the period, but Denver ended the quarter with a 7-0 spurt and built a 16-point cushion, 41-25, after Nene’s layup to close out the frame.

The Nuggets were ahead by as many as 23 points in the second quarter and led 56-36 with under five minutes remaining before intermission. Seattle then put together a 9-2 run and cut its deficit to 58-45 on Allen’s three-pointer with 2:49 to go in the half. The Sonics would enter the break trailing 68-54.

Seattle gained some ground in the third quarter and got to within 97-88 heading into the final 12 minutes when Murray buried a three-pointer at the buzzer.

However, Denver outscored the Sonics 13-4 to start the fourth quarter and kept the visitors at bay the rest of the way. Nene’s three-point play with 6:35 remaining ended the burst and gave the Nuggets a commanding 110-92 advantage.

"Coach (George Karl) has put a lot of confidence in us," said Anthony. "We are not going to let down. We are going to fight when teams make their run."