Kleiza’s jumper sends Nuggets past Kings

Linas Kleiza recovered the ball in a scramble and hit a jumper just before the final buzzer sounded, lifting the Denver Nuggets to a thrilling 106-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night at Sacramento, Calif.

The Kings kept giving Denver extra chances, like when Brad Miller bricked two free throws with 16.5 seconds left. After Allen Iverson missed from close range, Marcus Camby tipped the ball and Kleiza got possession and nailed the shot while falling away under pressure from the left wing.

Carmelo Anthony had 30 points and 12 rebounds and Camby added 19 points, 14 rebounds and three blocked shots. Iverson’s streak of four straight 30-point performances ended, as he finished with 21 points.

But Iverson almost single handily brought the Nuggets back. His layin off his own steal with 9:13 to play pulled the Nuggets within 93-87, then he hit a 3-pointer at the 3:24 mark that made it 101-97. His three-point play with 2:10 left cut Sacramento’s lead to 103-100.

Celtics 103, Magic 91: At Boston, Paul Pierce had 24 points to lead balanced scoring from the Celtics’ starters, and Boston raced to victory over Orlando.

Rajon Rondo added 23 points and Ray Allen 22 for the Celtics, who avenged an earlier loss to the Magic. Kevin Garnett had 21 points to go along with 12 rebounds.

Dwight Howard led the Magic with 23 points and 14 rebounds.

Warriors 105, Cavaliers 96: At Cleveland, Stephen Jackson scored 29 points and Baron Davis added 27 to lead Golden State’s victory over the Cavaliers, who have lost 10 of 13.

The Warriors, playing the finale of a five-game trip, never trailed and built an 89-61 lead late in the third quarter. The Cavaliers outscored the Warriors 29-14 in the fourth to make the final score more respectable.

LeBron James led Cleveland with 25 points.

Pistons 94, Rockets 82: At Auburn Hills, Mich., Richard Hamilton scored 17 points and Antonio McDyess and Rasheed Wallace added double-doubles in Detroit’s victory over Houston.

The Rockets started the night near full strength, but their two stars both left with injuries. Tracy McGrady didn’t come out for the second half after aggravating a sore knee, while Yao Ming missed most of the second half after needing four stitches for a facial cut.

Lakers 95, Knicks 90: At New York, Kobe Bryant scored 39 points, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 20,000, and Los Angeles held off the Knicks.

Bryant added 11 rebounds and eight assists in his first game at Madison Square Garden in nearly two years. His last basket came in the final minute after the Knicks had trimmed a 25-point deficit to one.

Jamal Crawford scored 31 points for the Knicks.