Denver nets its best mark this season to win again

DENVER • Kenyon Martin had 25 points and Chauncey Billups scored 13 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, lifting the Denver Nuggets to a 135-115 win over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night.

The Nuggets have won four in a row after setting a season-high in points against the Pacers. Their previous best was 132 against Toronto in early December.

Denver is 24-12, matching the club's best start since its first season in the NBA in 1976-77.

Carmelo Anthony, playing with an injured finger on his shooting hand for most of the second half, finished with 21 points and set a season-high with nine assists.

Danny Granger had 36 points, the most scored against the Nuggets this season. He's scored 30 or more points 10 times this season.

Troy Murphy added 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Jarrett Jack contributed 17.

Denver led by as many as 20 points early, only to see the Pacers tie the score at 80 on Granger's layup in the third quarter. Anthony restored the lead on a 10-foot turnaround jumper the next time down the court, and the Nuggets wouldn't relinquish the advantage.

They outscored the Pacers 38-23 in the final quarter.

Anthony banged his finger when he had the ball swatted out of his hands early in the third quarter. He had the team trainer check it out a few times.

The All-Star forward missed three games last month because of a bruised right elbow.
Billups added 11 assists and went 8 for 8 from the line.

There was plenty of chirping at the officials in the first half as Jim O'Brien, Linas Kleiza, Anthony and George Karl drew technicals for arguing.

O'Brien's rant late in the first quarter sparked the Pacers, who got off to a sluggish start, falling into a 20-point hole.

Indiana rallied to pull to 74-70 at halftime. Granger led the surge, scoring 26 first-half points.