The Nuggets eliminated an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit with a 16-2 run that Marcus Camby started by slamming home Nene's miss with two hands. Anthony cut the deficit to 101-100 with a putback with 2:27 remaining before Devin Brown's right-handed jam ended a string of 10 straight Nuggets points.

Iverson came back with a jumper from the left wing, and Anthony hit two free throws to give Denver its first lead since the first quarter.

Bobby Jackson drove for a layup to get the Hornets within one, and Anthony missed a foul shot as a small beach ball was thrown from the stands. Officials ruled it was thrown after he'd shot the ball.

That gave the Hornets one last chance with 17 seconds left, but all three of their shots missed in a wild sequence. Chris Paul missed a driving layup along the right baseline, Brown missed a putback after the ball went between his legs, and Jackson's desperation 3-pointer from the right wing was off target.

Nuggets players raised fists into the air to celebrate their eighth straight win, as the Hornets slowly walked toward their bench.

Denver clinched the sixth spot in the Western Conference. Only the Los Angeles Lakers can match the Nuggets' 43 victories, and Denver holds the tiebreaker by winning the season series.

Fans stood for the final 3 1/2 minutes, but ended up watching in disappointment as a scoreboard video recapped the Hornets' two seasons in Oklahoma City.

In other games
? Suns 93, Lakers 85 ¡ª Steve Nash had 26 points and 14 assists, and host Phoenix sent Los Angeles to its sixth loss in seven games.
? Raptors 87, Pistons 84 ¡ª Anthony Parker scored 21 points and host Toronto moved within a win or a Miami loss from clinching the third seed in the Eastern Conference.
? Spurs 110, Timberwolves 91 ¡ª Manu Ginobili scored 21 points to help San Antonio defeat host Minnesota.
? Heat 100, Pacers 96 ¡ª Dwyane Wade scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter to carry host Miami to victory.
? Warriors 125, Kings 108 ¡ª Baron Davis scored 25 points on his 28th birthday, and Golden State kept up the pace in its playoff chase.
? Clippers 107, Trail Blazers 89 ¡ª Cuttino Mobley had 22 points, six rebounds and seven assists, and host Los Angeles breezed past Portland.
? Bulls 100, Bobcats 81 ¡ª Ben Gordon scored 20 points and host Chicago tightened itsr grip on the second seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
? Bucks 104, Celtics 102 ¡ª Charlie Bell scored 24 points and Dan Gadzuric added a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds to help Milwaukee snap a four-game losing streak.
? Nets 100, Knicks 86 ¡ª Jason Kidd's 87th triple-double led host New Jersey to victory over New York, eliminating the Knicks from the playoff race.
Kidd had 13 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists for his 12th triple-double this season.
? Wizards 98, Hawks 85 ¡ª DeShawn Stevenson scored 25 points and Washington used a 14-0 run at the end of the first half to beat host Atlanta.