Sizzling Nuggets deal huge blow to Wolves

Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points, and Andre Miller added 22 points and 15 assists to help the Denver Nuggets deal a serious blow to the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff hopes with a 107-104 victory Friday night at Minneapolis.

Minnesota, which finished with the best record in the Western Conference last season and eliminated Denver in a first-round playoff series, fell 4 1/2 games behind seventh-place Denver and 3 1/2 behind eighth-place Memphis in the race for the final playoff spot in the West.

Kenyon Martin added 24 points for the Nuggets, who improved to 27-6 under George Karl and won for the 20th time in their last 22 games. Denver also has won nine of its last 10 road games.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Wolves, who had won seven of their previous eight games in a late-season dash for the playoffs.

Warriors 127, Suns 119: At Oakland, Calif., Mickael Pietrus hit six 3-pointers while scoring a career-high 28 points, and Golden State matched its franchise record with 18 3-pointers while defeating Phoenix for its eighth straight victory. The Warriors extended their longest winning streak since 1994 with a victory over the NBA leaders, whose six-game streak ended despite Amare Stoudemire’s 44 points and 16 rebounds.

Kings 119, Trail Blazers 115: At Portland, Peja Stojakovic scored 35 points and Sacramento clinched its seventh straight playoff appearance with a victory over Portland. Mike Bibby added 19 points and 11 assists for the Kings.

Pistons 114, Magic 102: At Orlando, Fla., Tayshaun Prince scored 26 points, Chauncey Billups added 23 and Detroit clinched the Eastern Conference’s No. 2 playoff seed by beating Orlando. The Pistons, winners of five straight, also closed in on their third Central Division title in four years, reducing their magic number to three.

76ers 103, Cavaliers 98: At Philadelphia, Allen Iverson had 23 points and a career-high 16 assists to help Philadelphia sweep the season series against Cleveland and leapfrog the Cavaliers into seventh place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Pacers 93, Wizards 83: At Indianapolis, Reggie Miller scored 18 points to lead Indiana past Washington for its season-high sixth straight win. The Pacers moved into a tie with Washington for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.

Grizzlies 97, Heat 81: At Memphis, Tenn., Memphis moved closer to a spot in the playoffs by dominating play inside against a Miami team missing Shaquille O’Neal. The Grizzlies, who are battling Minnesota for the eighth and final Western Conference spot, hit their first five 3-point attempts and led 60-35 at the half.

Bulls 102, Knicks 94: At New York, Ben Gordon scored 22 points and Kirk Hinrich added 20 as Chicago handed New York its ninth straight loss. The Knicks were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs when Philadelphia defeated Cleveland.

Raptors 109, Hawks 101 (OT): At Toronto, Jalen Rose scored 30 points and Toronto handed Atlanta its 14th straight loss. Morris Peterson added 26 points and 14 rebounds, and Rafer Alston finished with 21 points and eight assists for the Raptors.

Jazz 98, Hornets 87: At New Orleans, Matt Harpring scored 10 of his 28 points in the fourth quarter, leading Utah to a victory over New Orleans.

Bucks 93, Bobcats 75: At Milwaukee, Desmond Mason scored 21 points and Marcus Fizer added a season-high 18 in Milwaukee’s win over Charlotte.

Off the court

Grant Hill’s comeback season is over, cut short by a sore left shin. The Orlando forward has experienced intermittent pain since being kicked almost six weeks ago. Hill said before Friday’s game against Detroit that he and the team are “looking at the big picture.” … New Orleans put guard Speedy Claxton on the injured list because of a strained right groin and activated forward-center Marciej Lampe.