Nuggets roll with Melo out of Denver

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dwyane Wade went under the Sacramento defense for a shot attempt.

DENVER » For one night, the Denver Nuggets didn't need Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups or any of their new acquisitions.

J.R. Smith's 26 points helped short-handed Denver beat Memphis 120-107 only hours after the Nuggets finalized a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony and Billups to the New York Knicks.

Tony Allen had 26 points and O.J. Mayo added 21 for the Grizzlies, who had their four-game winning streak halted.

The Nuggets had only nine players on the bench following a three-team trade that also involved Minnesota.

In the 13-player swap, the Knicks picked up Anthony, Billups, Shelden Williams, former University of Hawaii star Anthony Carter and Renaldo Balkman from Denver.

New York sent Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov and a 2014 first-round draft pick to the Nuggets, who get additional picks and cash. Denver also acquired center Kosta Koufos from the Timberwolves.

Felton, Mozgov, Chandler and Gallinari received the biggest ovation of the night without even stepping on the floor. They waved to the crowd from the side of the court after spending most of the game watching from a luxury suite as their new teammates picked apart the Grizzlies.

Heat 117, Kings 97

LeBron James scored 31 points, Dwyane Wade added 23 and host Miami won for the 11th time in its last 12 games.

The Heat never trailed, jumping out to a 35-16 lead after the first quarter and eventually going up by as many as 29 before the starters got pulled.

Lakers 104, Hawks 80

All-Star game MVP Kobe Bryant scored 20 points, Pau Gasol added 14 points and 10 rebounds, and host Los Angeles easily ended its three-game skid and got right back into form after stumbling with increasingly embarrassing road losses to Orlando, Charlotte and league-worst Cleveland.

Celtics 115, Warriors 93

Kevin Garnett had 24 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, and Rajon Rondo had 19 points, 15 assists and six rebounds to help visiting Boston break a six-game losing streak at Golden State.

They Celtics hadn't won in the Bay Area since Dec. 29, 2003.

Thunder 111, Clippers 88

Jeff Green scored 22 points, Kevin Durant added 21 and host Oklahoma City spoiled Blake Griffin's return to his hometown. Griffin amassed 28 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, but Los Angeles gave up a 16-0 run with Griffin on the bench at the end of the first half with three fouls.

Bobcats 114, Raptors 101

D.J. Augustin had 23 points and eight assists, and host Charlotte cruised past listless Toronto, despite losing top scorer Stephen Jackson to a strained left hamstring.

Pacers 113, Wizards 96

Danny Granger had 21 points and 10 rebounds, and visiting Indiana piled on the fast-break points to rout Washington. The Pacers scored all 26 of their fast-break points by the third quarter.

Rockets 108, Pistons 100

Rookie forward Patrick Patterson scored a career-high 20 points, including seven in a row late in the fourth quarter as visiting Houston pulled away from Detroit.

Bucks 94, Timberwolves 88

Brandon Jennings scored 27 points and made five free throws down the stretch to lead host Milwaukee over Minnesota, which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games in Milwaukee.