Garnett, Timberwolves top Nuggets

Craig Smith had 20 points, Ricky Davis 19 and Mike James 18 for the Timberwolves, who were coming off a season-opening home win over Sacramento on Wednesday.

Carmelo Anthony, who was ejected from Thursday’s road loss to the Clippers, ended with 28 points on 13-of-30 shooting. Earl Boykins also had 28 points, while Andre Miller scored 18 and dished out 12 assists.

Kenyon Martin’s jam with 47.7 seconds remaining cut Denver’s deficit to 110-109, but Mark Blount hit a jumper after picking up a loose ball with 27.8 seconds left.

Anthony missed four shots in the final 14 seconds, including a desperation three-point heave from well beyond the top of the arc as time expired.

Blount finished with 10 points, as the Timberwolves beat the Nuggets for the 12th time in the last 18 matchups.

Nene scored 13 and Martin ended with 10 points and 10 boards for Denver.

Minnesota led by as many as nine in the opening quarter, at 19-10, but found itself down 27-26 after 12 minutes.

It was tight throughout much of the second with Denver holding a 57-53 lead at intermission.

Denver led by as many as eight in the early moments of the third, as a Martin layup made it 63-55. However, the Timberwolves scored the next five points, but the Nuggets regained control to lead 91-84 going into the fourth.

A jumper by Miller boosted the Nuggets to a 98-92 cushion, but Minnesota scored the next seven, finished by a Troy Hudson jumper for a 99-98 contest with 6:10 left.

Game Notes

Each team shot over 50 percent from the field...Minnesota had 19 turnovers...The Timberwolves made 25-of-33 foul shots.