Nuggets grab critical win over Minnesota

Nene added 11 points for the Nuggets, who snapped an eight-game losing streak to Minnesota. Jon Barry and Rodney White each netted 10 points in the winning effort.

The win, coupled with Utah’s loss to Seattle, moved Denver into eighth place in the Western Conference by a half game over the Jazz.

The Nuggets were without the services of center Marcus Camby (groin) and forward Ryan Bowen (back), while guard Voshon Lenard left in the second half with an undisclosed injury.

Chris Andersen made his return from the injured list and scored five points and pulled down nine rebounds. Andersen had been on the IL since March 12 with tendinitis in his left patella.

"This was a gutsy win," Denver head coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We got great contributions from a lot of people. This team has done a wonderful job this year."

Kevin Garnett posted a double-double with 24 points and 14 rebounds, as the Timberwolves saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Fred Hoiberg and Wally Szczerbiak both came off the bench to score 17 and 14 points, respectively.

Despite the loss, Minnesota remained within two games of Sacramento for the top spot in the Western Conference. The Kings suffered a humbling loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Mark Madsen hit a 10-foot baseline jumper with 6:48 remaining in the game to bring the Timberwolves within 85-83. But the Nuggets countered with an 8-2 run over the next four minutes, sparked by a pair of Anthony free throws, to widen their advantage to 93-85.

Minnesota chipped away at the deficit and eventually got it to three at 95-92 on a Garnett three with 55 seconds remaining.

However, that was the closest the Timberwolves would get as Andre Miller and White combined to go 6-of-6 from the foul line in the last 50 seconds to seal the win.

Denver notched its third straight home victory after losing the previous three.

"Don’t know how we did it but we did it," Anthony said. "This was the biggest game of the year and our backs were against the wall."

The first quarter was tightly contested until Boykins drained a pair of threes in the final minute of the frame to stake Denver to a 26-19 lead after one.

The Nuggets went up 31-23 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter on a Nene foul line jumper. But Denver responded by going on a 12-4 spurt to tie it at 35 apiece with 5:45 remaining until halftime.

Both teams traded baskets the rest of the half before Anthony and Boykins each hit a pair of free throws in the final minute to put the Nuggets on top, 53-47, at the intermission.

Denver led 66-57 with 4:51 remaining in the third quarter on Boykins’ jumper from the elbow. The Nuggets couldn’t capitalize on the nine-point advantage and Minnesota answered on a 12-3 run, capped by back-to-back threes from Hoiberg, to tie it at 69-69 with 1:26 left in the frame.

However, White and Boykins made consecutive baskets in the final minute to give Denver a 73-69 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets won their second straight overall after losing the last three.