Carmelo Anthony scored 26 points and a career-high 18 rebounds to propel the Denver Nuggets past the New Orleans Hornets 93-80 for their eighth win in nine games in the NBA basketball league.
The Nuggets (47-22) established a 25-point lead at halftime and were never seriously threatened as they took over sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, moving one-half game in front of the Dallas Mavericks.
The Hornets (33-37) lost for the second time to Denver inside a week and suffered their fifth defeat in six games overall.
Rookie Darren Collison had 15 points and helped New Orleans fight back to within nine points midway through the fourth.