SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Andres Nocioni made four 3-pointers and scored a season-high 21 points, helping the Sacramento Kings beat the struggling Denver Nuggets 106-101 on Monday night.
Omri Casspi made a 3-pointer from the corner to put the Kings ahead for good at 97-96. Following a missed shot by Carmelo Anthony, Beno Udrih converted on a fastbreak for a three-point play to give Sacramento a 100-96 lead with 1:41 remaining.
Udrih scored 17 points and had seven assists and Donte Greene also had 17 points for the Kings. Jason Thompson contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Anthony scored 34 points and Nene had 25 points for the Nuggets, who lost their third straight and fifth in six games. Kenyon Martin added 10 points and 12 rebounds.
The Nuggets made just 20 of 35 free throws and shot 41 percent overall. Hounded by Kings defenders throughout, Anthony shot 15 of 35 and was 3 of 7 on free throws.
The Nuggets are a different team on the road, where they have dropped six straight. They came into the game averaging just over 100 points in road games while averaging 114 in Denver, where they are 13-2.
The Nuggets cut the lead to 104-101 on a short baseline shot by Anthony Carter with 4.1 seconds left. But Udrih made two free throws to secure the victory.
Driving to the basket, Nocioni drew a fifth foul on Anthony with 7:58 remaining. Nocioni made both free throws and a short time later hit a 3-pointer from the corner, putting the Kings ahead 90-84.
The Kings were without rookie guard Tyreke Evans, who sprained his right ankle Saturday in a double overtime loss against the Lakers.
Denver was also missing its point guard. Chauncey Billups is nursing a strained left groin that he originally injured Dec. 16. He sat out three straight games, then played only the first half Christmas Day at Portland when he reaggravated the injury.
It's been a tough stretch for the Kings, who met their third straight conference finalist from a season ago. The Kings lost to Cleveland in overtime and followed with a double overtime loss to the Lakers.
Nocioni made a late 3-pointer for the Kings, who trailed most of the third quarter but finished strong to take a 75-70 lead into the fourth.
Anthony was aggressive from the start, taking 15 shots in the game's first 17 minutes. He scored 19 first-half points in helping the Nuggets to a 48-47 lead. Nocioni scored 11 points for the Kings.
NOTES: Geoff Petrie has agreed to a contact extension to remain president of basketball operations for the Sacramento Kings. The team has called a news conference for Tuesday to announce the deal. Sacramento reserves outscored the Nuggets 20-4 in the opening half. With the shot clock nearing zero early in the third quarter, Anthony threw up a long 3-pointer that went in. He shrugged his shoulders and laughed heading downcourt after the shot.
