Miller’s layup lifts Nuggets

Andre Miller scored a playoff career-high 28 points and sank a nifty layup with 1.3 seconds left that lifted the Denver Nuggets to a 97-95 win over the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

Miller drove left past rookie Draymond Green, did an up-and-under between two defenders under the basket and banked the ball off the glass with his right hand.

The Warriors inbounded the ball and Stephen Curry’s desperation 3-pointer wasn’t anywhere close as the horn sounded and the Nuggets celebrated their 24th straight win at the Pepsi Center.

Miller scored 18 in the frenetic fourth quarter.

Game 2 is Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, where the Nuggets posted an NBA-best 38-3 home record during the season.

Knicks stifle Celtics

Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points, and the Knicks beat the Boston Celtics 85-78 at New York in their playoff opener.

After knocking the Celtics from the top of the Atlantic Division, the Knicks took the first step to knocking them out of the playoffs by holding Boston to three baskets and eight points in the final period.

Clippers top Grizzlies

Chris Paul led seven players in double figures with 23 points, Eric Bledsoe scored 15 and the Clippers beat the Memphis Grizzlies 112-91 while getting just one dunk in their playoff opener at Los Angeles.

Chauncey Billups had 14 points, and Caron Butler and Jamal Crawford had 13 apiece on a night when Blake Griffin was held to 10 points and five rebounds before fouling out with 3:32 left as Lob City was grounded.

Nets crush Bulls

Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and the Nets turned the Brooklyn blackout into a blowout, beating the Chicago Bulls 106-89 in Game 1 of their playoff series.

Williams scored 22 points, Lopez had 21 and the host Nets ripped apart the Bulls’ vaunted defense with a spectacular second quarter, when they made 16 of 20 shots. Joe Johnson scored 16 for the Nets.