DENVER – Wilson Chandler had 21 points, including a key 3-pointer late in the game, and Timofey Mozgov finished with a season-high 17 to lift the Denver Nuggets over the Oklahoma City Thunder 107-100 on Wednesday night.
Ty Lawson added 15 points and 15 assists for the Nuggets, who returned home after a 2-1 trip that included a win over LeBron James the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Serge Ibaka had 22 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma City, with reigning NBA MVP Kevin Durant (broken right foot) and All-Star guard Russell Westbrook (broken right hand) on the bench in suits. The Thunder have dropped four in a row, including Tuesday night in Utah.
Down by 16 in the fourth quarter, the Thunder cut it to 101-98 on a 3-pointer by Ibaka.
But Chandler, wearing salmon-colored shoes with yellow soles, and Arron Afflalo hit back-to-back 3s in a 45-second span to extend the lead with 1 minute, 42 seconds remaining.
Chandler then had a key block to help secure the win.
Denver gained some separation in the third behind Lawson, who had six points and seven assists in the quarter. The Nuggets caught a break, as they built their lead to 15 when Kenneth Faried charged down the lane and floated in a shot as he collided with Nick Collison. At first, Faried was whistled for a charge, negating the basket.
But the officials huddled and switched it to a blocking foul. Faried, who turned 25 on Wednesday, sank the free throw to make it 75-60.
Faried later had a thunderous dunk that drew a roar from the crowd.
It was quite a departure from the last time the Nuggets played at home, when fans booed them off the court afterr a rout by Portland. Denver head coach Brian Shaw understood their disappointment.
“To the fans, it looks like we’re not putting out any energy, not giving them what they paid for,” Shaw said. “You turn it around by giving that energy and effort.”
Nuggets news
Thunder G Reggie Jackson grew up about 60 miles from the Pepsi Center in Colorado Springs. ... Andre Roberson was back on the floor after being sidelined with a sprained left foot. The former University of Colorado standout scored three points in limited minutes. ... Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said he learned how to manage a short bench while he was an assistant in Denver under George Karl. “He’s had a lot of wins playing with seven or eight guys,” Brooks said. ... In a pregame ceremony, the Nuggets commemorated the gold medal Kenneth Faried earned with Team USA at the Basketball World Cup this summer. The team presented Faried with a painting of himself. ... Shaw has been on the hot seat because of Denver’s slow start. “I can take the criticism with the best of them,” he said. ... The Nuggets lost to the Thunder 102-91 on Nov. 1. ... The Thunder will host Brooklyn on Friday. ... The Nuggets will host New Orleans on Friday.
