NBA Wrap: Nuggets snap Clippers' 17-game winning streak

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DENVER -- Danilo Gallinari led six Nuggets players in double figures with 17 points and Denver stopped the Los Angeles Clippers' franchise-record winning streak at 17 games with a 92-78 victory Tuesday night.

The Clippers' streak was the longest in the NBA since the Boston Celtics won 19 in a row from Nov. 15-Dec. 23, 2008.

Kenneth Faried added 14 points and 11 rebounds for the Nuggets, who won their eighth in a row at home.

The Clippers, whose point total was two above their season-low, were hurt by poor shooting from 3-point range (5 of 29, 17.2 percent) and the free-throw line (13 of 29, 44.8 percent). Blake Griffin and Eric Bledsoe had 12 points apiece to lead Los Angeles.

The loss also ended a franchise-record seven-game road winning streak for the Clippers, who hadn't been beaten since a 105-98 setback against New Orleans on Nov. 26 (see full story).

Blazers spoil Stoudemire's season debut
NEW YORK -- Amare Stoudemire stood up from the bench and the fans rose with him, a booming ovation filling Madison Square Garden as Stoudemire walked to the scorer's table to enter a game for the first time this season.

The cheers turned to boos just a few minutes later when the Knicks couldn't stop the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Trail Blazers overcame Carmelo Anthony's season high-tying 45 points and spoiled Stoudemire's season debut, beating New York 105-100 on Tuesday night.

Stoudemire finished with six points on 3-of-8 shooting and one rebound in 17 minutes off the bench in his return from knee surgery. He said he nearly shed a tear with the loud appreciation the fans showed him when he checked in, but he couldn't give them anything to keep the cheers going in the first half.

"I felt good," Stoudemire said. "The game felt like it was going 100 mph that first half. Had a couple of easy-looking shots, open shots, just a little bit rusty, wasn't able to knock those down. But the second half was better than my first half. Hopefully my second game will be better than my first game."

Nicolas Batum scored 26 points, rookie Damian Lillard had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Portland, which avenged a 121-79 loss here last March 14 (see full story).

Pistons win third straight
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Austin Daye had only one thought when he caught a pass on the right wing on the game's crucial possession.

"Don't pass it. Shoot it," he said.

Not that he had much choice.

With the shot clock running down, Daye made a 3-pointer with 11.5 seconds left, helping the Detroit Pistons seal a 103-97 win over the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.

Daye's shot -- after a pressured Tayshaun Prince found him with a pass -- gave the Pistons a six-point lead.

"When I get the ball with time left on the clock, I'm trying to get off a good shot," Daye said. "Tayshaun found me in a good spot and I let it go."

Greg Monroe had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Pistons, who have won three in a row for the first time this season. Sacramento cut a 16-point fourth-quarter deficit to one, but Detroit was able to hold on (see full story).

Mavs snap six-game losing streak
WASHINGTON -- A strong second-half performance helped the Dallas Mavericks avoid their first seven-game skid in nearly 14 years.

Vince Carter scored 23 points, and O.J. Mayo and Darren Collison each added 15 to help the Mavericks break their six-game losing streak with a 103-94 win over the Washington Wizards on Tuesday night.

The Wizards (4-25) took a 14-point lead early in the second quarter before Dallas rallied. The Mavs trailed by four at the half before outscoring the Wizards 35-19 in the third quarter to take an 83-71 lead.

"It's been a rough two weeks," coach Rick Carlisle said.

The Mavericks have tried to work Dirk Nowitzki back into the lineup, and in his fifth game back after right knee surgery the former league MVP scored 11 points (see full story).

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