NBA: Denver 104, Oklahoma City 101

DENVER, April 26 (UPI) -- Ty Lawson scored 27 points Monday and the Denver Nuggets staved off post-season elimination with a 104-101 victory over Oklahoma City.

Lawson's free throws with 6 seconds left put Denver up by five points, sealing the fifth-seeded Nuggets' victory and helping them avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook's try for a game-tying 3-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out and the Nuggets held on to force a Game 5 in their Western Conference quarterfinal series Wednesday in Denver.

Danilo Gallinari added 18 points to go with six rebounds and J.R. Smith came off the bench to drain a trio of 3-pointers en route to 15 points for the Nuggets, who overcame 38.6 percent shooting from the floor.

Kevin Durant poured in 31 points and Westbrook added 30 for fourth-seeded Oklahoma City.