Ty Lawson’s jumper lifts Nuggets past Thunder

Denver, CO, United States (4E Sports) – Ty Lawson buried the go-ahead 23-foot jumper to help the Denver Nuggets survive Russell Westbrook’s season-high 38-point performance and Oklahoma City’s fourth-quarter run en route to a 105-103 triumph over the Thunder Friday at Pepsi Center.

The Thunder bounced back from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit and even led by 99-96 behind three foul shots by Westbrook with 2:49 left in the game.

Danilo Gallinari made two free throws, Wilson Chandler split his charities and Andre Miller sank a jumper to put the Nuggets ahead, 101-99.

Kevin Durant made two foul shots to tie the game but Chandler scored a layup to put the Nuggets ahead, 103-101, with 22 seconds left.

Durant tied the game anew with a short jumper but Lawson, who replaced Corey Brewer after a timeout by the Nuggets, sank a jumper with 0.2 seconds left.

Then, Gallinari sealed the Nuggets’ fourth straight victory with a steal off an inbounds pass by Thabo Sefolosha.

Denver’s bench players were outstanding, with Wilson Chandler tying his career best with 35 points and Andre Miller and Corey Brewer combining for 28 points as Lawson was the only starter in double digits with 11 on 5-for-14 shooting.

The win improved the Nuggets to 38-22, good for second in the Northwest Division and fifth overall in the Western Conference.

Westbrook shot 12-for-23 from the field and 12-for-17 from the foul line, Durant scored 25 and Serge Ibaka added 17 for the Thunder, who dropped to 42-16 after losing for the first time in last four games.

Four straight points by Westbrook put the Thunder ahead, 17-6, early in the first period but a three-pointer by Chandler late in the quarter trimmed the gap to 29-26.

In the second, Chandler and Brewer combined for nine points in the Nuggets’ 11-0 run to take a 37-29 lead with 8:34 remaining.

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