Nuggets Burn Heat in Overtime

dzhdiv3@hotmail.com — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:42:09 GMT

“I know it’s been a tough year,' wow gold said, as he thanked fans for helping vote him onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team. “But it won’t last forever.'’

It only seems that way.

J.R. Smith made a career-best eight 3-pointers and scored 28 points, Kenyon Martin added 24, and the Denver Nuggets edged the Miami Heat 114-113 in overtime Tuesday night — sending the 2006 NBA champions to their 23rd loss in 24 games.

Carmelo Anthony scored six of his 22 points in overtime for Denver.

“We finished the game out,'’ Anthony said. “That’s what matters.'’

Wade had game-highs of 29 points and 10 assists,power leveling but missed a 22-footer at the buzzer for the Heat, who led by 14 in the first half before seeing it slip away.

“It would have been fun,'’ Heat coach Pat Riley said. “But it didn’t go in.'’

Wade dove over the first row of seats in a futile effort to grab a loose ball late in overtime, but he came up just short — a harbinger of what awaited Miami.

On that possession, Anthony Carter made two wow power leveling?free throws, putting the Nuggets up by two with 1:26 left. Anthony added two more free throws with 54.1 seconds to play, before Ricky Davis’ 3-pointer with 33.6 seconds left got Miami within a point.

Anthony missed with about 10 seconds remaining,logo design Miami controlled the rebound and Wade dribbled up the left side of the floor to one of his favorite spots — with Riley not electing to call time-out.

But the shot rimmed out, and Miami left disappointed once again.