Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points and the Denver Nuggets twice converted four-point plays to beat the Miami Heat 112-105 on Tuesday.
Anthony lost his scoring duel with fellow 2003 draft pick Dwyane Wade, who had 37 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds. But the Nuggets reached .500 by winning their third in a row after an 0-3 start.
Defending NBA champion Miami fell to 3-4 with its second consecutive loss, both at home.
PHOTO: AP
The Heat were again without Shaquille O'Neal because of a hyperextended left knee, his second injury to the knee this season. His status is day to day.
Bucks 103, Hawks 101
At Atlanta, Michael Redd converted a three-point play with 27 seconds remaining and finished with 30 points, and Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak.
Ruben Patterson knocked the ball away from Joe Johnson, who had just crossed halfcourt, right before the buzzer sounded.
Johnson and Tyronn Lue each scored 29 for the Hawks, who have lost two straight after a four-game winning streak. Lue had eight points in the final 2:11 of the third quarter, including an 18-footer that gave Atlanta its first lead at 77-75.
Patterson scored 16 points and Andrew Bogut 13 for Milwaukee.
Minnesota 101, Portland 89
At Minneapolis, Ricky Davis broke out of a shooting slump with 27 points to help Minnesota snap a four-game losing streak with a victory over banged-up Portland.
Davis entered the night shooting just 32 percent during the losing streak, but made 11 of 18 shots on Tuesday. Kevin Garnett added 20 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists for the Wolves, who led by as many as 26 points.
Hornets 94, Bobcats 85
At Oklahoma City, Peja Stojakovic scored a career-high 42 points and directed a decisive fourth-quarter run as New Orleans downed Charlotte to break a three-game losing streak.
Stojakovic showed exactly why the Hornets wanted him in the offseason, scoring 11 points in a 13-4 fourth-quarter surge and grabbing three loose balls down the stretch.
Emeka Okafor had 25 points, 16 rebounds and a career-high seven blocks for Charlotte. Adam Morrison, the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA draft, matched his career high with 21 points, and reserve Sean May scored 17.
Spurs 92, Rockets 84
At Houston, Tim Duncan had 19 points and 15 rebounds as San Antonio rallied from 19 points down in the third quarter to beat Houston. Manu Ginobili scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half as the Spurs beat the Rockets for the seventh straight time.
Francisco Elson scored 12 and Robert Horry added 10 for San Antonio, which has won its first four road games for the first time in franchise history.
Tracy McGrady scored 26 for the Rockets, but he had only five in the second half. Yao Ming, who had topped 30 points in his last two games, scored 20 and was just 7-for-21 from the field.
Mavericks 111, Bulls 99
At Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki scored 31 points and Erick Dampier had season highs of 14 points and 13 rebounds, helping Dallas beat Chicago for its first home victory of the season.
Dallas won its third straight following an 0-4 start. Two of those early losses were at home and the Mavs came out intent on avoiding a rare three-game home losing streak.
Jazz 112, Clippers 90
At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer had 16 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists, and Utah got off to its first 7-1 start since the lockout season of 1999.
The Jazz held the Clippers without a field goal for 10 minutes, 27 seconds of the second half and beat the Clippers for the 33rd time in the last 34 meetings in Utah.
Mehmet Okur scored 27 and Ronnie Brewer had 12 points in his first NBA start. Rookie Paul Millsap added six rebounds, four blocks and four steals as the Jazz played without forward Andrei Kirilenko, who is out with a sprained ankle. Cuttino Mobley led the Clippers with 18 points.
Warriors 110, Raptors 99
At Oakland, California, Baron Davis had 22 points and 12 assists while seizing control of the fourth quarter in Golden State's comeback victory over Toronto.
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