DENVER — The last two points were the hardest for Carmelo Anthony.

With the game in the balance, the crowd chanting "MVP! MVP!" and Anthony's sights set on an offensive milestone, the Nuggets forward sank a pair of free throws with 16 seconds remaining to finish off a career-high, 50-point performance and help Denver beat the New York Knicks, 128-125, last night.

"They might have been the two toughest free throws I've shot in a while," Anthony said. "We've got the game on the line, 50, you're right there and you want to get it. If I didn't say I wanted to get it, I'd be lying to you. I'm right there. But most importantly they were two big free throws."

He wasn't kidding. Every point the Nuggets scored — Denver also got 32 from Chauncey Billups and 17 from J.R. Smith — was crucial to holding off a Knicks team that got 41 points from Al Harrington, one shy of his career high.

"Usually, you would hope when you have a night like this, that you'd definitely win one," Harrington said. "We're just upset we couldn't come out on top."

The problem was Anthony's night was just a little better.

"He's got the total package right now," Harrington said. "He's hitting 3s, he's hitting mid-range, he can get to the free throw line whenever he wants. When you play against a guy that's going like that, there's nothing you can really do. I think our guys did a pretty good job, because if they didn't he would have had 70."

KINGS 109, NETS 96

Rookie Tyreke Evans had 21 points and eight rebounds as host Sacramento handed New Jersey its 16th straight loss to open the season, one away from matching the worst start in NBA history. Suns 120, Timberwolves 95: Jason Richardson scored 22 points to lead visiting Phoenix past Minnesota, which is one loss away from tying the franchise record of 16 defeats in a row.

WIZARDS 94, HEAT 84

Antawn Jamison scored 24 points to reach 16,000 career points, Nick Young added 22 points and visiting Washington never trailed in its victory over Miami.

HAWKS 100, 76ERS 86

Jamal Crawford scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, Mike Bibby finished with 21 and visiting Atlanta held off Philadelphia to snap a two-game losing streak.

CELTICS 116, RAPTORS 103

Ray Allen scored 20 points and host Boston used a 13-1 run midway through the third quarter for a 70-62 lead it never lost in beating Toronto.

CLIPPERS 104, PISTONS 96

Chris Kaman scored 26 points and Baron Davis added 25 to help Los Angeles end a 13-game losing streak to Detroit, which has lost seven straight.

MAVERICKS 113, PACERS 92

Dirk Nowitzki made 10 of 14 field goals and 11 of 13 free throws to score 31 points as visiting Dallas beat Indiana for its fifth straight road victory.

SPURS 92, ROCKETS 84

Tim Duncan had 21 points and 12 rebounds, and Antonio McDyess added 15 points and 14 boards as San Antonio earned its first road win of the season.

BOBCATS 94, CAVALIERS 87

Gerald Wallace had 31 points and 14 rebounds to lead host Charlotte past Cleveland, which looked disjointed in Shaquille O'Neal's return from injury.

THUNDER 108, BUCKS 90

Kevin Durant had 33 points and 12 rebounds and host Oklahoma City opened the second half with a 17-0 run for a 68-50 lead in rolling past Milwaukee.

GRIZZLIES 106, TRAIL BLAZERS 96

Zach Randolph scored 21 points and visiting Memphis opened up a 22-point halftime lead to beat Portland, which got no closer than 10 thereafter.