DENVER — Allen Iverson scored 29 points and Linas Kleiza added 23 to lift the Denver Nuggets, playing without All-Star Carmelo Anthony, to a 107-100 win over the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night.
Marcus Camby finished with 13 points and grabbed 21 rebounds. He had 15 of his rebounds in the first half.
Josh Smith had his first career triple-double for the Hawks, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He was a point shy of a triple double last season against Sacramento.
Anthony missed his first game of the season with a sprained left ankle. He came down on the foot of Kobe Bryant in Monday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, and is listed as day-to-day. Anthony is the fourth-leading scorer in the league, averaging 25.5 points.
Marvin Williams had 20 points and Al Horford added 14 points and 11 rebounds for Atlanta. Anthony Johnson finished with 12 points in his return to the lineup after serving a one-game suspension for a flagrant foul on Toronto’s Jose Calderon last week.Atlanta has lost six straight road games.
Kenyon Martin had 20 points and 10 boards for the Nuggets.
The Nuggets have won six straight games at home, improving to 18-5 at the Pepsi Center.
The Hawks, who trailed by as many as 17 points in the first half, appeared to have a fire lit under them when they were assessed a pair of technicals with 5:27 remaining.
Smith thought he was fouled on a layup, argued the call and was given a technical. Hawks coach Mike Woodson stood up for his player, and was slapped with a technical as well.
Iverson made both technical foul shots to push the lead up to 96-86. Atlanta then went on a 10-4 run to pull to within 100-96.
However, Anthony Carter and Kleiza silenced the comeback with layups late in the game to secure the win.
Nuggets coach George Karl said before the game he hoped forward Nene would join the team at a practice later this week. He thought it would be therapeutic.
Nene found out Tuesday that a testicular tumor removed Jan. 14 was malignant. The team said the tumor was discovered early, and tests showed the cancer was isolated.
The Nuggets said there’s no timetable yet for his return, but Karl thinks Nene will be back this season.
"My feeling is he knows that we love him and need him," Karl said.
Notes: Atlanta C Zaza Pachulia served a one-game suspension Wednesday for conduct detrimental to the team. He’s averaging 4.6 points this season. ... Nuggets G Chucky Atkins had the stitches removed from his lower abdomen on Wednesday. He’s been out since he had surgery to repair a right groin/abdominal strain on Jan. 11. Atkins is still hoping to be back by late March or early April. ... The Nuggets improved to 13-3 when Camby posts a double-double.