DENVER, March 27 (UPI) -- Carmelo Anthony rallied Denver with 32 points Thursday and the Nuggets further tightened the Western Conference race by downing Dallas 118-105.
Allen Iverson contributed 31 points in helping Denver win its fourth straight game. The Nuggets began the night a half game behind Golden State in the battle for the eighth and final playoff spot in the West, but Denver also moved within a full game of seventh-place Dallas.
Josh Howard led Dallas with 30 points and Jason Kidd had 19. It was the fourth setback in five games for the Mavericks, who have lost Dirk Nowitzki for an indefinite period with an ankle sprain.
Dallas led by as many as 14 points in the first half. The Mavericks scored 70 points during the first two quarters and just half that many in the final two.
An 11-point run for Denver in the third period put the Nuggets in front and they steadily pulled away. The Mavericks made just two field goals during the first five minutes of the fourth quarter.
