Denver — This felt like playoff basketball -- fitting for two teams that are fighting for a spot in the postseason.
"It was Wrestlemania," Denver Nuggets rookie Carmelo Anthony said. "It was tough out there with a lot of holding, grabbing, pushing and shoving."
Andre Miller hit a 16-foot jumper with 36 seconds left, and Anthony added two free throws in the final second, lifting the Nuggets to an 86-83 win Monday over Memphis, snapping the Grizzlies' four-game winning streak.
Two of the NBA's most improved teams, Memphis and Denver remained in seventh and eighth place in the Western Conference.
"When two teams are desperately trying to win as many games as possible, it's not going to be artistic," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We're tired, we're short-handed, we're banged up, but we fought through it."
Miller and Anthony each scored 20 points, and Anthony pulled down 11 rebounds. Nene had 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets.
Shane Battier led Memphis with 13 points, and Pau Gasol had 12.
The Grizzlies lost for the 13th straight time in Denver.
Memphis coach Hubie Brown was upset with his team's 19 turnovers -- including 12 in the second half -- and with the officiating.
Memphis guard Jason Williams, center, scoops up a loose ball in front of Denver forward Nene, left, and Grizzlies center Lorenzen Wright. The Nuggets won, 86-83, Monday in Denver.
"We are not happy with the turnovers," Brown said. "It was extremely difficult for us to run our offense in the second half, especially down the stretch, when guys are holding you and knocking guys to the floor and there are no calls being made. It isn't like a blind man couldn't have seen what went on here."
The Nuggets were without starting center Marcus Camby, sidelined by a strained left hamstring he sustained Sunday night in Sacramento.
Hawks 102, Mavericks 96
Atlanta -- Stephen Jackson had 11 of his career-high 30 points during an early fourth-quarter rally. Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 27 points and 10 rebounds for Atlanta, and Jason Terry had 14 points and nine assists. Michael Finley scored 24 for the Mavericks.
Cavaliers 97, Celtics 89
Cleveland -- Rookie LeBron James scored 24 points for Cleveland. James played the final 10:19 despite a strained left calf muscle, but hit a crucial three-pointer and grabbed a big rebound down the stretch as the Cavs snapped a three-game losing streak.
Kansas University product Paul Pierce scored 32 for Boston.
Spurs 85, Rockets 82
Houston -- Tim Duncan scored 28 points, and Manu Ginobili hit two driving layups in the final minute, giving San Antonio its fifth straight victory and fourth in a row on the road. The Spurs beat the Rockets for the sixth straight time.
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