Anthony injures hand in victory

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points and set a season-high with nine assists despite injuring his hand in the third quarter of the Nuggets' 135-115 win over the Indiana Pacers last night in Denver.

The All-Star forward is headed off to a specialist today for further evaluation. The team, which described the injury as a "probable" fracture, said it doesn't know how much time the star will miss.

Judging by how bad the hand hurt after the game, Anthony wasn't confident he'll play tomorrow night against the Miami Heat. He may be out even longer than that.

"It's sore and stiff right now," Anthony said.

Anthony said the injury occurred when Jeff Foster tried to slap the ball out of his hand early in the third quarter.

The hand bothered him so much that he drew nothing but air on a free throw attempt, the memory bringing a pained smile to his face.

"Out there, I didn't have any feel whatsoever," he said.

Anthony also missed three games last month with a bruised right elbow.

Now this.

His dinged-up hand marred the Nuggets' fourth win in a row.

"Hopefully, we get some good news on it ," said Chauncey Billups, who scored 13 of his 24 points in the final quarter. "That would not be good, of course, to have him out again."

Spurs 91, Heat 84 - Tim Duncan scored 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and visiting San Antonio trailed for only one possession in beating Miami, the Spurs' 14th victory in their last 17 games.

Manu Ginobili sealed the win with a spectacular block on a Dwyane Wade (24 points) layup attempt with 1:33 remaining. That play set up a game-clinching jumper by Roger Mason at the other end.

Nets 98, Kings 90 - Vince Carter scored 29 points, Yi Jianlian added 22 points and New Jersey handed Sacramento its 11th straight road loss.

Jarvis Hayes had a go-ahead 3-pointer with 4:53 to play as the Nets won consecutive games at home for the first time this season.

Kevin Martin had 36 points for the woeful Kings (8-27). But he scored only 11 in the second half, when he was 3 of 12 from the field. New Jersey cut a 12-point deficit to 2 after three quarters as Yi had 10 in the third and Carter added 9.

Bucks 107, Raptors 97 - Michael Redd had a season-high 35 points and Charlie Villanueva scored 13 of his 25 in the fourth quarter, leading host Milwaukee to its first win without center Andrew Bogut (back spasms) in 21 months.

The Raptors, playing without center Jermaine O'Neal and guard Jose Calderon, turned to Chris Bosh, who had 31 points and 11 rebounds to help Toronto hold the lead through most of three quarters.

Jazz 119, Warriors 114 - Deron Williams had 25 points and 15 assists, Ronnie Brewer scored 7 crucial points down the stretch, and host Utah held off Golden State.