J.R. Smith scored a season-high 30 points as the Denver Nuggets overcame the absence of Carmelo Anthony to hold off the visiting Phoenix Suns 138-133 yesterday in the highest scoring game in the NBA this season.

Chauncey Billups returned to the lineup after missing three games with a sprained right wrist and had 25 points and eight assists for the Nuggets.

Anthony was feeling ill Friday against Chicago but still played and hit the winner in the final seconds. Yesterday he lasted just 2:48 before sitting down for good.

Jason Richardson did his best to keep Phoenix in it with 39 points, and Steve Nash had 17 points and 11 assists.

Nash missed a 3-pointer with 17.8 seconds left that would have tied the game.

Spurs 109, Hornets 95

At New Orleans, Manu Ginobili scored 15 of his 23 points in the second half as San Antonio overcame a 17-point deficit to hand New Orleans its first home loss of the season.

Tim Duncan scored 21 points and Richard Jefferson added 19 for the Spurs, who matched a franchise-best 7-0 start on the road, set in the 2006-07 season.

David West scored 23 points for the Hornets, who were outscored 65-34 in the second half while losing for the first time in eight home games.

Jazz 109, Clippers 97

At Los Angeles, Deron Williams had 26 points and nine assists as Utah won its fifth straight.

C.J. Miles scored 10 of his 14 points in the fourth quarter for the Jazz, who won their 13th in 16 games after opening the season with one-sided losses to Denver and Phoenix.

Rookie Blake Griffin had 35 points on 13 for 21 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds and dished out seven assists for the Clippers, who have lost nine of the past 10 meetings with the Jazz.

Knicks 125, Pistons 116, 2OT

At Auburn Hills, Michigan, Amare Stoudemire had 37 points and 15 rebounds, and Raymond Felton added 23 points and 11 assists for New York.

Danilo Gallinari hit back-to-back 3-pointers to start the second OT, giving the Knicks a 115-109 lead, and Wilson Chandler followed with another 3 for a nine-point lead.

Tayshaun Prince led the Pistons with 31 points, including 21 in the fourth quarter and overtime, and Rodney Stuckey scored 29 points.

Rockets 99, Thunder 98

At Houston, Kevin Martin scored 23 points and Shane Battier hit 4 of 6 attempts from 3-point range as Houston edged Oklahoma City.

Battier scored 18 points, Kyle Lowry had 14 points and Luis Scola 13 for the Rockets, who won their 11th straight at home over the Thunder.

Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 10 assists as Oklahoma City's road winning streak ended at five games.

Hawks 96, Raptors 78

At Toronto, Josh Smith had his third career triple-double and Marvin Williams added 17 points and 12 rebounds as Atlanta downed Toronto.

Smith finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists as the Hawks won their third straight after losing seven of nine. Joe Johnson and Al Horford scored 16 points apiece.

Andrea Bargnani, limited to a season-low 11 points Friday, led Toronto with 14 points, while DeMar DeRozan scored 13.

Nets 98, Trail Blazers 96

At Newark, New Jersey, Devin Harris had 25 points, including a vital 3-pointer with 1:11 left, and eight assists to lead New Jersey.

Brandon Morrow scored 14 points and Brook Lopez added 13 for the Nets, who snapped a two-game losing streak and handed the Trail Blazers their third straight loss.

Reserve Wesley Matthews scored 25 points, Brandon Roy had 21 and LaMarcus Aldridge added 20 for the Blazers.