Los Angeles - Carmelo Anthony and the Denver Nuggets are making a habit of dodging disaster. Anthony scored 22 points - including the go-ahead basket in the final minute - and the Nuggets recovered after wasting a 26-point third-quarter lead Saturday night for a 105-100 home victory over the New Orleans Hornets.

Reserve JR Smith added 17 points for Denver, which averted an ugly loss for the second time in as many nights. On Friday, the Nuggets escaped league-worst Oklahoma City with a 122-120 win when Anthony drilled a 3-pointer with 0.1 seconds remaining.

"Another day at the office," Anthony said. "We blew a lead tonight, but we won. I'll take that any day."

In a match-up of first-place teams, Denver (23-12) shot 54 percent from the field in the first half and raced to a 58-40 halftime lead as it took advantage of shorthanded New Orleans (20-10), which was without suspended center Tyson Chandler.

The Nuggets continued to pour it on, widening the margin to 77-51 midway through the third period on a jump hook by Kenyon Martin, who scored 13 points. But they relaxed, and the Hornets climbed back into the game.

With Chris Paul running the offense and David West and Serbia's Peja Stojakovic knocking down shots, New Orleans scored 29 of the next 35 points, closing to 83-80 early in the fourth quarter.

"In the second half we came out a little more intensity, a lot more aggressive than we were in the first half, and got back into the ballgame," Hornets coach Byron Scott said. "I told them at halftime that this team (Denver) will let you back in."

Smith slowed the rally with seven straight points for the Nuggets, but the Hornets kept coming and took their first lead at 100-99 on a three-pointer by James Posey with 1:10 to play.

Anthony, scoreless in the final period to that point, slid inside for a finger roll that gave Denver the lead for good with 58 seconds to go.

"I didn't want to shoot a jump shot," Anthony said. "I wanted to take it to the hole and either get fouled or make something happen."

After Paul missed a drive, Chauncey Billups sank two free throws for a 103-100 edge with 38 seconds left and made two more with 22 seconds to play.

"Losing the game is disappointing," said West, who scored 21 points. "We felt like this is a game we should have won, especially after we came back and tied it up."

Billups and Brazil's Nene scored 14 points each and Dahntay Jones added 10 for the Nuggets, who opened a two-game lead over Portland in the Northwest Division.

Paul had 30 points and 11 assists, Stojakovic scored 19 points and Hilton Armstrong - who started for Chandler - added a career-high 17 for the Hornets, who had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell one-half game behind San Antonio in the Southwest.

San Antonio 108, Philadelphia 106=

"French Flash" Tony Parker's jumper at the buzzer rescued the host Spurs, who blew a 21-point lead but won for the seventh time in eight games. Andre Miller scored 28 points for the 76ers, who completed a 1-5 road trip.

Atlanta 103, Houston 100=

Josh Smith scored a season-high 29 points to lead six players in double figures and Mike Bibby drained a 3-pointer with 1.5 seconds remaining to lift the host Hawks to their sixth straight home win.

Chinese superstar Yao Ming had 16 points - none in the fourth quarter - and 15 rebounds for the Rockets, who played without injured stars Tracy McGrady and Ron Artest and lost for the fifth time in seven games.

Miami 101,New Jersey 96 (OT)=

Dwyane Wade scored seven of his 29 points in overtime and added eight rebounds, six assists and four blocks to lift the Heat to their sixth win in eight games.

Indiana 122, Sacramento 117=

Danny Granger scored 35 points and the host Pacers survived a season-high 45 points by Kevin Martin of the Kings, who have dropped eight of nine.

Minnesota 102, Chicago 92=

Al Jefferson had 18 points and 14 rebounds and rookie Kevin Love added 18 and 12 as the visiting Timberwolves won consecutive games for the first time this season. The Bulls have lost three in a row.

Charlotte 102, Milwaukee 92=

Gerald Wallace scored 24 points and France's Boris Diaw added 21 as the host Bobcats avenged Friday's 28-point loss in Milwaukee and ended a three-game skid.