DENVER — Former Gators standout Corey Brewer sank three free throws with 2.1 seconds left and finished with 29 points as the Nuggets stretched their franchise-best winning streak to 14 games with a 101-100 thriller over the 76ers on Thursday night.
Anthony Randolph blocked Damien Wilkins' desperation jumper at the buzzer to secure Denver's 16th straight win at the Pepsi Center.
Brewer scored the Nuggets' last six points, including a 3-pointer with 9.2 seconds left that pulled Denver within 100-98. Brewer fouled Evan Turner with 7.1 seconds left, and Turner missed both free throws. After a timeout, Anthony Miller inbounded to Danilo Gallinari, who passed to Brewer, who was knocked down on his 3-point try by Wilkins.
The Nuggets are in the midst of their longest win streak since joining the NBA in 1976.
Rose's return: God knows?
DEERFIELD, Ill. — Bulls superstar Derrick Rose still isn't sure when he will come back from his knee injury.
The onetime MVP point guard sounded like a player who just might miss the season, though he said he hasn't experienced any setbacks in his recovery. He said Thursday he still has soreness in his surgically repaired left knee and hasn't set a date for his return. "It could be tomorrow and I feel like I can play the next game," Rose said before Thursday's 99-89 loss to the Blazers. "Nobody knows but God."
Rose hasn't played since he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during last year's playoff opener against Philadelphia. He had surgery in May, and his status has been a soap opera since.
Game highlights: LaMarcus Aldridge scored 28 and the visiting Blazers completed a season sweep of the Bulls 99-89.
Full-strength Lakers? Pau Gasol (foot) and Kobe Bryant (ankle, flu) practiced and were expected to play when the Lakers host the Wizards tonight, ESPN reported.
Around the league: Bobcats center Brendan Haywood will miss the rest of the season after being diagnosed with a stress reaction in his left foot. … Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler, who separated his left shoulder this week, is improving but missed Thursday's game against the 76ers and is likely to sit out two more.
Nuggets 101, 76ers 100
PHILADELPHIA (100): Turner 6-12 0-2 12, T.Young 9-15 0-0 18, Hawes 8-11 0-0 17, Holiday 6-12 3-3 18, Wilkins 10-15 2-4 24, Moultrie 3-6 2-2 8, Ivey 1-4 0-0 3, Wright 0-2 0-0 0, Jenkins 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 43-78 7-11 100.
DENVER (101): Gallinari 3-10 4-4 12, Faried 4-9 0-0 8, Koufos 2-6 1-2 5, A.Miller 9-14 3-5 21, Iguodala 5-9 3-4 13, Brewer 10-18 4-5 29, McGee 1-3 4-5 6, Randolph 3-6 1-2 7, Fournier 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 37-76 20-27 101.
Philadelphia 22 22 27 29— 100
Denver 17 34 24 26— 101
3-Point Goals—Philadelphia 7-18 (Holiday 3-5, Wilkins 2-4, Hawes 1-2, Ivey 1-3, Turner 0-2, Wright 0-2), Denver 7-11 (Brewer 5-6, Gallinari 2-3, A.Miller 0-1, Iguodala 0-1). Fouled Out—Hawes. Rebounds—Philadelphia 43 (Hawes 12), Denver 42 (Koufos 8). Assists—Philadelphia 27 (Holiday 15), Denver 18 (A.Miller 8). Total Fouls—Philadelphia 22, Denver 19. Technicals—Holiday, Denver defensive three second. A—19,155.
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Explore all your optionsTrail Blazers 99, Bulls 89
PORTLAND (99): Batum 3-12 2-2 11, Aldridge 14-23 0-1 28, Hickson 4-7 1-3 9, Lillard 9-17 2-2 24, Matthews 4-8 0-0 11, Leonard 3-6 2-2 8, Maynor 4-9 0-0 8, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Barton 0-1 0-0 0, Babbitt 0-0 0-0 0, Freeland 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-84 7-10 99.
CHICAGO (89): Deng 2-7 0-0 5, Boozer 8-18 0-1 16, Noah 7-10 4-4 18, Hinrich 1-7 0-0 2, Belinelli 3-10 0-0 7, Robinson 4-12 0-0 8, Gibson 7-14 0-1 14, Butler 4-7 3-5 12, Mohammed 2-3 0-0 4, Teague 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 39-89 7-11 89.
Portland 20 32 28 19— 99
Chicago 21 16 16 36— 89
3-Point Goals—Portland 10-21 (Lillard 4-7, Matthews 3-5, Batum 3-7, Maynor 0-2), Chicago 4-14 (Teague 1-1, Deng 1-2, Butler 1-2, Belinelli 1-3, Robinson 0-2, Hinrich 0-4). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Portland 54 (Hickson 21), Chicago 46 (Boozer 11). Assists—Portland 19 (Lillard 7), Chicago 30 (Robinson 9). Total Fouls—Portland 16, Chicago 16. Flagrant Fouls—Boozer. A—21,946.