Nuggets beat Portland, win division crown

Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points to lead the Denver Nuggets to their first division title in 18 years with a 110-98 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday night.

Marcus Camby added 21 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks for the Nuggets, whose last division title was in 1987-88 in the Midwest Division.

Ruben Patterson scored 21 points after persuading Denver coach George Karl to let him start in his first trip to Portland since coming over from the Blazers in a four-team deal Feb. 23.

Voshon Lenard and Sebastian Telfair each had 21 points for the Blazers, who tied a season high with 24 turnovers.

The Nuggets, who dressed only 10 players because of injuries, entered the game needing one win or a Utah loss to clinch the Northwest Division crown.

76ers 105, Wizards 97: At Philadelphia, Allen Iverson had 26 points and 15 assists and Kyle Korver scored 20 off the bench, helping Philadelphia move into sole possession of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with a win over Washington.

Cavaliers 103, Hornets 101: At Oklahoma City, LeBron James finished with 32 points and hit a jumper from the top of the key with 0.5 seconds left to give Cleveland a win over New Orleans.

Mavericks 75, Clippers 73: At Los Angeles, Dirk Nowitzki’s 18-foot jumper with 0.7 seconds remaining lifted Dallas past Los Angeles. Nowitzki finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds.

Jazz 85, Rockets 83: At Salt Lake City, Carlos Boozer scored 25 points as Utah kept its slim playoff hopes alive by holding off Houston when Juwan Howard’s shot at the buzzer for the Rockets was ruled too late.

•Rockets center Yao Ming broke his left foot when another player stepped on it late in the first quarter against Utah. Yao is almost certainly done for the season, although he planned to get the foot looked at today.

Pacers 101, Knicks 82: At Indianapolis, Stephen Jackson scored 28 points and Peja Stojakovic added 23 to help Indiana beat New York.

Magic 105, Hawks 88: At Orlando, Fla., Dwight Howard scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help Orlando beat Atlanta.