Magic lose spell but choke Heat in OT

MIAMI – Vince Carter scored 27 points and Rashard Lewis added 24 including a huge 3-pointer with 28.4 seconds left as the Orlando Magic blew a 12-point lead in the final 5 minutes of regulation before beating the Miami Heat, 108-102, in overtime Thursday.

Jameer Nelson scored 15, Matt Barnes finished with 13 and Dwight Howard had 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic, who’ve won 10 of their last 11 games.

Dwyane Wade had 36 points and 10 rebounds for Miami, which led 100-99 with 3:09 left in overtime, then went scoreless for nearly 2 1/2 minutes. Jermaine O’Neal scored 14 and Carlos Arroyo added 11 for the Heat.

At Denver, Carmelo Anthony pulled down a career-best 18 rebounds to go with his 26 points to lead Denver past New Orleans, 93-80.

Anthony recorded his third straight double-double and his ninth of the season.

Chris Anderson returned from two sprained ankles to help clog up the lanes and clean up the glass – he had 13 rebounds – as the Nuggets beat New Orleans for the second time in six nights. The Nuggets (47-22) moved a half-game ahead of Dallas for sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Lakers.

J.R. Smith scored 13 of his 17 points in the second quarter to help the Nuggets take control with a 62-37 lead at the half. His back-to-back fastbreak dunks, followed by a twisting layup capped a 13-0 run that gave Denver a 50-28 lead. (AP)