Denver — Raef LaFrentz accepted his performance that included a season-high 29 points to go with 10 rebounds and a key defensive steal. He was more emphatic is his reaction to a victory by the Nuggets.
"What I did is what I get paid to do," LaFrentz said. "Ending a losing streak? It felt great. I feel relieved and that a burden is off our shoulders again."
Miami's Rod Strickland, bottom, passes under Portland's Damon Stoudamire. The Trailblazers prevailed, 92-85, Thursday at the American Airlines Arena in Miami.
Nick Van Exel added 26 points and 11 assists as Denver snapped a five-game losing streak with a 96-91 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night.
Interim coach Mike Evans was equally relieved.
"We finally got one," he said. "We've been in so many close games and we finally got a little breathing room and got the win."
LaFrentz scored eight points in the fourth quarter and recorded his 10th double-double of the season as Denver avoided its longest losing streak in two years.
Lamond Murray scored 17 points, and Andre Miller had 15 for the Cavaliers, who lost their fourth straight and eighth in 11 games.
"We played well enough to win until the last five minutes of the game," Murray said. "That's when we gave them too many open looks and too many second-half looks."
LaFrentz scored off a miss by Avery Johnson with 2:04 left to give the Nuggets a four-point lead. LaFrentz then deflected a pass intended for Zydrunas Ilgauskas, a play that led to a jumper by Johnson that sealed the win.
"It was just a matter of the opportunity being there with the shots and I was able to knock them down," LaFrentz said. "I got hot in the second half hitting threes."
LaFrentz hit two three-pointers early in the fourth quarter to give Denver a 79-77 lead. The Cavaliers tied the game at 83 with 6:58 remaining on a jumper by Bimbo Coles and a dunk by Ricky Davis.
Ilgauskas gave Cleveland an 87-86 lead with the second of two shots over LaFrentz with 4:38 remaining.
Van Exel's fadeaway jumper and free throw put Denver up 89-87, but Murray scored to tie the game at 89.
LaFrentz made two layups three minutes into the third quarter to give the Nuggets their biggest lead at 58-50.
The Cavaliers closed the quarter with a 7-0 run and led 73-72.
Denver took its first lead with 4:02 left in the first half, 42-40 on a baseline jumper by Van Exel.
The Cavaliers shot 8-for-23 in the quarter and led 52-48 at halftime.
"It was a good win for the Nuggets," Cleveland coach John Lucas said. "It was a better effort from us, but not a win."
Nets 108, Clippers 89
East Rutherford, N.J. Kerry Kittles scored 16 of his 18 points in the third quarter and New Jersey welcomed Kenyon Martin back from his second suspension by beating Los Angeles. Martin, who has missed three games in the last two weeks because of flagrant fouls, finished with 12 points. Lamar Odom had 14 points and Elton Brand had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Clippers, who lost their third straight.
Trail Blazers 92, Heat 85
Miami Damon Stoudamire scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter and helped rally Portland past Miami. Rasheed Wallace and Bonzi Wells each scored 23 points for the Trail Blazers, who overcame a 17-point deficit despite shooting just 39 percent from the floor. Eddie Jones scored 25 points for the Heat. Alonzo Mourning added 16 points. Miami, which led 55-44 at halftime, scored just 30 points in the second half and was outscored 27-14 in the fourth quarter.
Jazz 83, Rockets 79
Salt Lake City Karl Malone had 30 points and 10 rebounds as Utah beat Houston, extending its home winning streak over the Rockets to 10 games. Malone scored six points in a late 11-2 run as Utah won for the seventh time in eight games. John Stockton added 19 points for the Jazz. Steve Francis scored 27 points for Houston before being ejected early in the third quarter. Cuttino Mobley added 19 points for the Rockets.
Grizzlies 102, Suns 96
Phoenix Rookie Pau Gasol scored a career-high 31 points and blocked five shots and Memphis scored the last 13 points to hand Phoenix its fifth straight loss. Stromile Swift added 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who beat the Suns for only the second time in 18 tries and only the second time ever at America West Arena. Shawn Marion had 24 points and a season-high 17 rebounds for the Suns.
Mavericks 111, Knicks 89
Dallas Dirk Nowitzki had 29 points and 13 rebounds and Steve Nash added 14 points and 11 assists, leading Dallas. Nash assisted on or scored Dallas' first 25 points, giving the Mavericks an early nine-point lead as they avenged a loss at Madison Square Garden a week before that ended their 10-game winning streak. Kurt Thomas, a Dallas native and former Maverick, scored a season-high 21 points and Othella Harrington had 17 as the Knicks lost their fourth straight.
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