J.R. Smith scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter, helping the Denver Nuggets pull away for a 97-87 victory Tuesday night over the visiting Washington Wizard, who lost their ninth straight game. Carmelo Anthony (Towson) led the Nuggets with 29 points and 12 rebounds. The game marked the return of Nuggets coach George Karl, who was back on the bench after missing four games over the past week for cancer treatments. Andray Blatche led the Wizards with 23 points; Al Thornton had 16.

Heat: Miami signed 6-foot-3 guard Kenny Hasbrouck (Cardinal Gibbons) to a 10-day contract. Hasbrouck, 23, a former Siena standout, was averaging 16.9 points in 10 games with Rio Grande Valley of the NBA Development League. He was in the Heat's summer program.