The Denver Nuggets are cruising into the playoffs, and capping the regular season against the woeful Minnesota Timberwolves may just keep it that way.

Coach George Karl is also planning to take advantage of the seemingly lopsided matchup.

Karl is looking to limit playing time for key contributors as the Nuggets try to continue their dominance of the Timberwolves on Thursday night.

Denver (37-28) has won three straight and 10 of 14 to match a franchise record with its ninth straight trip to the postseason.

“You do this in the month of April and a lot of things and a lot of pressure and a lot of stress have been on you, I think that it shows that our guys have a pretty big heart and have some good character,” Karl said.

“Everybody feels that we’re playing our best basketball right now,” he added.

The Nuggets’ playoff opponent is still undecided, with either the Los Angeles Lakers or Oklahoma City as potential foes. A win over Minnesota (26-39) would secure the sixth seed and a series with the Lakers. A loss combined with Dallas beating Atlanta would mean the Nuggets are No. 7, setting up a playoff rematch with the Thunder, who eliminated them in five games in the opening round last year.

“We’re going to go after (Thursday’s) game,” Karl said. “I’m not saying we want the Lakers over Oklahoma City. We just want to be playing as good of basketball as we’ve been playing.

“We’re not going to play anybody big minutes (Thursday) but we’re going to go in and try to win that game.”

The Nuggets have done plenty of that against the Timberwolves, winning 18 of the last 20 matchups. They took the most recent 113-107 on April 11, but fell 117-100 in the latest visit to the Target Center on March 25.

Denver returns to Minneapolis coming off Wednesday’s impressive 106-101 win at Oklahoma City.

Now, the Nuggets will try to capitalize on a Minnesota club that’s dropped 12 of 13 with a depleted roster. The Timberwolves are without All-Star forward-center Kevin Love (concussion) and guards Ricky Rubio (knee) and Luke Ridnour (ankle).

Ty Lawson is averaging 22.7 points while hitting 56.5 percent from the field over the last six games – five wins – after scoring 25 versus the Thunder. He led Denver with 24 points and eight assists against the Timberwolves earlier this month.

Arron Afflalo scored 21 in that meeting, and is averaging 21.0 over his last three.

The Timberwolves are ending a rough season that has included losing 12 of the last 13 while surrendering an average of 103.3 points. They lost 93-88 to Golden State on Sunday and guard J.J. Barea ripped his teammates for not caring.

“We’ve got problems here,” said Barea, who had 14 points and 12 assists while making 5 of 18 shots from the floor against the Warriors. “We’ve got a lot of guys that don’t care. … We’re just going to keep getting Ls until we get players here that care, that care about winning, care about the team and care about the fans.”

Michael Beasley, who made 3 of 11 from the field for eight points with nine rebounds Sunday, took exception to Barea’s comments.

“Until you point those guys out one by one, it doesn’t really matter,” said Beasley, whose average of 11.5 points is a major drop from his career-high 19.2 from last season – his first with Minnesota.

Barea is averaging 15.6 points and 9.7 assists in the past 10 games, including 12 points and a career-high 15 assists against the Nuggets this month.

DENVER — A playoff spot has been clinched but the Nuggets insist their work isn’t anywhere near finished.

On the wish list: Qualifying as the sixth seed, getting Danilo Gallinari on track and continuing to improve defensively.

Sunday’s 101-74 win over Orlando at the Pepsi Center was a start.

“We feel like we are getting better every game,” Nuggets center JaVale McGee said.

The victory not only strengthened the Nuggets’ case to stay in sixth, where they currently reside in the Western Conference, but they control their own destiny in keeping it. The Nuggets are a half-game ahead of the Mavericks, who have one game remaining and are one-game worse in the loss column.

But to get there, the Nuggets must win both of their remaining games or win one while Dallas loses Thursday at Atlanta. And while Oklahoma City is next-for the Nuggets on Wednesday night, that might not be as challenging as it appears.

Here’s why: The Spurs are one win away from clinching the top seed in the West, which would lock the Thunder into the second seed. That can happen as early as today as San Antonio faces Portland.

Meanwhile, Denver’s gameagainst OKC on Wednesday is the Thunder’s regular-season finale. With its fate already decided, Oklahoma City could be expected to either rest or play stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sparingly, allowing the Nuggets to take full advantage.

Sunday’s victory capped off another win-win on a back-to-back set. They did the same a week ago, taking back-to-back games from Houston last Sunday and Monday; and the Nuggets will get a chance to make it three-for-three — after Wednesday’s game they play at Minnesota on Thursday.

“We’re getting it together,” forward Corey Brewer said. “We had a lot of injuries all year. We’re finally getting our whole team — without Wilson (Chandler) — but we’re gelling, and that’s a good thing.”

The win was powered by Gallinari, who took an important step in getting himself into a good rhythm for the playoffs. The Nuggets looked for him early, and he delivered, hitting four of his first six shots in the first quarter for nine quick points.

Gallinari, who continues to battle through a fractured thumb, finished with 17 points.

Defensively, the Nuggets had all kinds of problems stopping the ultra-versatile Ryan Anderson, who scores from the paint to the arc. A leading candidate for NBA’s most improved player, Anderson scored 24 points.

Otherwise, the Nuggets’ defense was pretty good, holding the Magic to 30 points — in the entire second half.

The Magic’s 74 points were the fewest points allowed by the Nuggets in a game since Feb. 11, 2009, when, coincidentally, they beat Orlando 82-73.

Arron Afflalo was solid again for the Nuggets, as he has been for nearly all of April, finishing with 15 points as the team shot 56.4 percent from the field. McGee caught one lob pass after another in the second half and dunked his way to 17 points with eight rebounds.

Afflalo said the team is “getting better. Even the (L.A.) Clipper loss show we did some positive things. I think we’re getting better overall and hopefully it carries on to the playoffs.”

Nuggets 101, Magic 74

ORLANDO (74)

J.Richardson 4-13 0-0 9, Anderson 9-18 3-3 24, Davis 4-8 6-6 14, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Redick 4-11 0-0 9, Smith 3-9 0-0 6, Q.Richardson 0-3 0-0 0, Orton 1-3 0-2 2, Wafer 2-5 3-4 7, Duhon 1-4 0-0 3, Harper 0-0 0-0 0, Liggins 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-75 12-17 74.

DENVER (101)

Gallinari 6-12 2-2 17, Faried 5-8 1-2 11, Koufos 4-5 0-0 8, Lawson 5-10 2-2 13, Afflalo 7-10 1-1 15, McGee 8-11 1-3 17, Brewer 3-7 1-1 8, Miller 3-10 0-0 6, Mozgov 1-2 0-0 2, Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4, Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-78 8-11 101.

Orlando 19 25 18 12 — 74

Denver 24 20 29 28 — 101

3-Point Goals – Orlando 6-23 (Anderson 3-9, J.Richardson 1-4, Duhon 1-4, Redick 1-4, Q.Richardson 0-2), Denver 5-15 (Gallinari 3-6, Lawson 1-2, Brewer 1-4, Hamilton 0-1, Afflalo 0-2). Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – Orlando 39 (Anderson 9), Denver 50 (Faried 10). Assists — Orlando 19 (Wafer, J.Richardson 4), Denver 32 (Miller 11). Total Fouls – Orlando 16, Denver 18. Technicals — Davis. A — 19,155 (19,155).

DENVER — A playoff spot has been clinched but the Nuggets insist their work isn’t anywhere near finished.

On the wish list: Qualifying as the sixth seed, getting Danilo Gallinari on track and continuing to improve defensively.

Sunday’s 101-74 win over Orlando at the Pepsi Center was a start.

“We feel like we are getting better every game,” Nuggets center JaVale McGee said.

The victory not only strengthened the Nuggets’ case to stay in sixth, where they currently reside in the Western Conference, but they control their own destiny in keeping it. The Nuggets are a half-game ahead of the Mavericks, who have one game remaining and are one-game worse in the loss column.

But to get there, the Nuggets must win both of their remaining games or win one while Dallas loses Thursday at Atlanta. And while Oklahoma City is next-for the Nuggets on Wednesday night, that might not be as challenging as it appears.

Here’s why: The Spurs are one win away from clinching the top seed in the West, which would lock the Thunder into the second seed. That can happen as early as today as San Antonio faces Portland.

Meanwhile, Denver’s gameagainst OKC on Wednesday is the Thunder’s regular-season finale. With its fate already decided, Oklahoma City could be expected to either rest or play stars like Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook sparingly, allowing the Nuggets to take full advantage.

Sunday’s victory capped off another win-win on a back-to-back set. They did the same a week ago, taking back-to-back games from Houston last Sunday and Monday; and the Nuggets will get a chance to make it three-for-three — after Wednesday’s game they play at Minnesota on Thursday.

“We’re getting it together,” forward Corey Brewer said. “We had a lot of injuries all year. We’re finally getting our whole team — without Wilson (Chandler) — but we’re gelling, and that’s a good thing.”

The win was powered by Gallinari, who took an important step in getting himself into a good rhythm for the playoffs. The Nuggets looked for him early, and he delivered, hitting four of his first six shots in the first quarter for nine quick points.

Gallinari, who continues to battle through a fractured thumb, finished with 17 points.

Defensively, the Nuggets had all kinds of problems stopping the ultra-versatile Ryan Anderson, who scores from the paint to the arc. A leading candidate for NBA’s most improved player, Anderson scored 24 points.

Otherwise, the Nuggets’ defense was pretty good, holding the Magic to 30 points — in the entire second half.

The Magic’s 74 points were the fewest points allowed by the Nuggets in a game since Feb. 11, 2009, when, coincidentally, they beat Orlando 82-73.

Arron Afflalo was solid again for the Nuggets, as he has been for nearly all of April, finishing with 15 points as the team shot 56.4 percent from the field. McGee caught one lob pass after another in the second half and dunked his way to 17 points with eight rebounds.

Afflalo said the team is “getting better. Even the (L.A.) Clipper loss show we did some positive things. I think we’re getting better overall and hopefully it carries on to the playoffs.”

Nuggets 101, Magic 74

ORLANDO (74)

J.Richardson 4-13 0-0 9, Anderson 9-18 3-3 24, Davis 4-8 6-6 14, Nelson 0-0 0-0 0, Redick 4-11 0-0 9, Smith 3-9 0-0 6, Q.Richardson 0-3 0-0 0, Orton 1-3 0-2 2, Wafer 2-5 3-4 7, Duhon 1-4 0-0 3, Harper 0-0 0-0 0, Liggins 0-1 0-2 0. Totals 28-75 12-17 74.

DENVER (101)

Gallinari 6-12 2-2 17, Faried 5-8 1-2 11, Koufos 4-5 0-0 8, Lawson 5-10 2-2 13, Afflalo 7-10 1-1 15, McGee 8-11 1-3 17, Brewer 3-7 1-1 8, Miller 3-10 0-0 6, Mozgov 1-2 0-0 2, Hamilton 2-3 0-0 4, Stone 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 44-78 8-11 101.

Orlando 19 25 18 12 — 74

Denver 24 20 29 28 — 101

3-Point Goals – Orlando 6-23 (Anderson 3-9, J.Richardson 1-4, Duhon 1-4, Redick 1-4, Q.Richardson 0-2), Denver 5-15 (Gallinari 3-6, Lawson 1-2, Brewer 1-4, Hamilton 0-1, Afflalo 0-2). Fouled Out – None. Rebounds – Orlando 39 (Anderson 9), Denver 50 (Faried 10). Assists — Orlando 19 (Wafer, J.Richardson 4), Denver 32 (Miller 11). Total Fouls – Orlando 16, Denver 18. Technicals — Davis. A — 19,155 (19,155).

The Denver Nuggets aided their chances of making the playoffs at the beginning of April by taking advantage of Dwight Howard’s absence from the Orlando Magic lineup.

Even with a postseason berth wrapped up, don’t expect the Nuggets to go easy on the Howard-less Magic during Sunday night’s rematch at the Pepsi Center.

Denver (35-28) matched a franchise record by clinching a ninth consecutive playoff berth with Saturday’s 118-107 win in Phoenix. The Nuggets made nine straight postseasons from 1981-82 to 1989-90.

Ty Lawson had 29 points and 10 assists during his team’s eighth victory in 12 games, a stretch that includes a 104-101 win over Orlando on April 1.

Howard missed that game with back spasms and is now out for the year after having surgery to repair a herniated disc and remove fragments Friday.

“I think we’ve been operating with the expectation that we wouldn’t have him back,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I don’t think this was unexpected.”

The Magic (36-27) are 3-6 without their All-Star center and three-time NBA defensive player of the year, who was averaging 20.6 points and a league-best 14.5 rebounds.

Orlando scored a combined 13 points over the final 7:52 of regulation and overtime during a 117-107 defeat in Utah on Saturday. The Magic gave up at least 100 points for the fourth time in five games.

“We just cannot guard,” Van Gundy said. “I don’t think it is that our guys are not trying, I don’t know what it is, but we cannot guard anyone. We can’t guard anyone … Our defense is disturbing to say the least.”

Orlando is all but locked into the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as it trails Atlanta by two games with three remaining for both teams, and leads New York and Philadelphia by three.

Denver, meanwhile, is tied for sixth in the West with Dallas, which has just one game remaining. The Mavericks hold the tiebreaker, but the Nuggets have three contests left.

“We are going to try to win all three of them. There won’t be any rest going on here,” coach George Karl said. “We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

Lawson will try to help the Nuggets with another high-scoring performance. The point guard averaged 24.5 points on 58.3 percent shooting over his last four games and is 9 for 14 from 3-point range, including a 5-for-5 performance in Saturday’s win.

Lawson had a team-leading 25 points during the win in Orlando and Arron Afflalo chipped in 22. Jameer Nelson had a season-high 27 for the Magic during the loss and averaged 20.3 over his last four games after scoring a team-best 23 during Saturday’s loss.

Denver has split its last four meetings with Orlando but has won seven of the last eight home matchups. A 111-94 victory on Dec. 14, 2010, was the Nuggets’ second in a row at the Pepsi Center.

The Denver Nuggets aided their chances of making the playoffs at the beginning of April by taking advantage of Dwight Howard’s absence from the Orlando Magic lineup.

Even with a postseason berth wrapped up, don’t expect the Nuggets to go easy on the Howard-less Magic during Sunday night’s rematch at the Pepsi Center.

Denver (35-28) matched a franchise record by clinching a ninth consecutive playoff berth with Saturday’s 118-107 win in Phoenix. The Nuggets made nine straight postseasons from 1981-82 to 1989-90.

Ty Lawson had 29 points and 10 assists during his team’s eighth victory in 12 games, a stretch that includes a 104-101 win over Orlando on April 1.

Howard missed that game with back spasms and is now out for the year after having surgery to repair a herniated disc and remove fragments Friday.

“I think we’ve been operating with the expectation that we wouldn’t have him back,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “I don’t think this was unexpected.”

The Magic (36-27) are 3-6 without their All-Star center and three-time NBA defensive player of the year, who was averaging 20.6 points and a league-best 14.5 rebounds.

Orlando scored a combined 13 points over the final 7:52 of regulation and overtime during a 117-107 defeat in Utah on Saturday. The Magic gave up at least 100 points for the fourth time in five games.

“We just cannot guard,” Van Gundy said. “I don’t think it is that our guys are not trying, I don’t know what it is, but we cannot guard anyone. We can’t guard anyone … Our defense is disturbing to say the least.”

Orlando is all but locked into the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference as it trails Atlanta by two games with three remaining for both teams, and leads New York and Philadelphia by three.

Denver, meanwhile, is tied for sixth in the West with Dallas, which has just one game remaining. The Mavericks hold the tiebreaker, but the Nuggets have three contests left.

“We are going to try to win all three of them. There won’t be any rest going on here,” coach George Karl said. “We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

Lawson will try to help the Nuggets with another high-scoring performance. The point guard averaged 24.5 points on 58.3 percent shooting over his last four games and is 9 for 14 from 3-point range, including a 5-for-5 performance in Saturday’s win.

Lawson had a team-leading 25 points during the win in Orlando and Arron Afflalo chipped in 22. Jameer Nelson had a season-high 27 for the Magic during the loss and averaged 20.3 over his last four games after scoring a team-best 23 during Saturday’s loss.

Denver has split its last four meetings with Orlando but has won seven of the last eight home matchups. A 111-94 victory on Dec. 14, 2010, was the Nuggets’ second in a row at the Pepsi Center.

PHOENIX (AP) Now that the Denver Nuggets are in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, there will be no letting up for the final three games of the regular season.

Coach George Karl wants his young team to gain some momentum, and there’s still a chance to pass Dallas for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference.

Ty Lawson went 5 of 5 on 3-pointers and had 29 points and 10 assists to lead Denver to the playoff-clinching 118-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Denver pulled even with Dallas after the Mavericks lost at Chicago. Dallas, though, has the tiebreaker with the Nuggets.

”We have three games left and we are going to try to win all three of them There won’t be any rest going on here,” Karl said. ”We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

The Suns fell a game behind Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz, playing at home, rallied to beat Orlando in overtime. Phoenix must win at Uah on Tuesday to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Suns own the tiebreaker against the Jazz.

”We got to go into Utah – tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team – and we got to win,” said the Suns’ Shannon Brown, who scored 28 points, including a career-best 6 3s in 12 attempts. ”That’s basically what it comes down to.”

Steve Nash of the Suns had 13 assists, nine in the first quarter, and passed Oscar Robertson into fifth place on the NBA’s career list. The Suns lost Channing Frye to a shoulder injury in the second quarter.

The Nuggets beat the Suns for the sixth straight time, three this season.

”They’ve got size, they got strength, they got a lot of skill, they can shoot the ball,” Nash said. ”You know, they’ve got a really good team, a really deep team, so they’ve been causing a lot of problems for us and we haven’t been able to beat them.”

Arron Afflalo scored 19 points and Kenneth Faried had 16 for the Nuggets, who had six players finish in double figures, shot 55 percent from the field and had a 26-2 advantage on fastbreak points.

Lawson noted that the Suns, like so many other teams, passed on him in the 2009 draft. Phoenix chose Earl Clark at No. 14. Lawson finally went at No. 18 to Minnesota.

”I mean, that is probably the only added motivation I have,” Lawson said. ”It has nothing against Steve. He is definitely one of my idols so you always want to see how good you are against your idols.”

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.

Denver used a third-period outburst to build a 21-point lead. The Suns cut it to 10 in the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

Nash passed Robertson with his fourth assist, on a 3-pointer by Frye just 4:22 into the game. The two-time MVP had assists on five of Phoenix’s first six field goals and finished the first quarter with nine.

After a tight first half, the Nuggets outscored Phoenix 33-14 to start the third quarter, going up 93-72 on Al Harrington’s fastbreak dunk with 2:31 left in the period. The Suns, though, scored the final eight points of the quarter to cut it to 93-80 entering the fourth. The closest the Suns got after that was 105-95 on Brown’s 3 with 4:42 left. Lawson and Andre Miller followed with layups and Phoenix didn’t threaten again.

”We could never get them under control at the start of the third quarter,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. ”They got a couple of easy layups and we struggled to slow them down from there.”

Lawson scored 11 points in the third quarter, making 4 of 6 shots, including all three 3-point attempts.

The Nuggets led 60-58 after a first half that saw neither team lead by more than six points. Denver shot 59.5 percent in the first half, led by Lawson’s 7 for 9 for 16 points. The Suns shot 54 percent in the first half, with Gortat going 6 for 9 for 14 points.

Frye sustained a subluxed right shoulder when he went up for a rebound with 4:33 left in the first half. The Suns’ starting power forward, who leads the team with 91 3-pointers, missed nearly two weeks after dislocating the same shoulder late last season.

Notes: Nash, with 9,897 assists, trails only Magic Johnson (10,141), Mark Jackson (10,334), Jason Kidd (11,830 and counting) and John Stockton (15,806). … The Nuggets won the season series 3-0. … The Suns’ Robin Lopez, ejected for a ”flagrant 2” foul in the victory over the Clippers on Thursday, drew a technical from referee Rodney Mott with 6:09 left in the first half.

PHOENIX (AP) Now that the Denver Nuggets are in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, there will be no letting up for the final three games of the regular season.

Coach George Karl wants his young team to gain some momentum, and there’s still a chance to pass Dallas for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference.

Ty Lawson went 5 of 5 on 3-pointers and had 29 points and 10 assists to lead Denver to the playoff-clinching 118-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Denver pulled even with Dallas after the Mavericks lost at Chicago. Dallas, though, has the tiebreaker with the Nuggets.

”We have three games left and we are going to try to win all three of them There won’t be any rest going on here,” Karl said. ”We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

The Suns fell a game behind Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz, playing at home, rallied to beat Orlando in overtime. Phoenix must win at Uah on Tuesday to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Suns own the tiebreaker against the Jazz.

”We got to go into Utah – tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team – and we got to win,” said the Suns’ Shannon Brown, who scored 28 points, including a career-best 6 3s in 12 attempts. ”That’s basically what it comes down to.”

Steve Nash of the Suns had 13 assists, nine in the first quarter, and passed Oscar Robertson into fifth place on the NBA’s career list. The Suns lost Channing Frye to a shoulder injury in the second quarter.

The Nuggets beat the Suns for the sixth straight time, three this season.

”They’ve got size, they got strength, they got a lot of skill, they can shoot the ball,” Nash said. ”You know, they’ve got a really good team, a really deep team, so they’ve been causing a lot of problems for us and we haven’t been able to beat them.”

Arron Afflalo scored 19 points and Kenneth Faried had 16 for the Nuggets, who had six players finish in double figures, shot 55 percent from the field and had a 26-2 advantage on fastbreak points.

Lawson noted that the Suns, like so many other teams, passed on him in the 2009 draft. Phoenix chose Earl Clark at No. 14. Lawson finally went at No. 18 to Minnesota.

”I mean, that is probably the only added motivation I have,” Lawson said. ”It has nothing against Steve. He is definitely one of my idols so you always want to see how good you are against your idols.”

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.

Denver used a third-period outburst to build a 21-point lead. The Suns cut it to 10 in the fourth quarter but could get no closer.

Nash passed Robertson with his fourth assist, on a 3-pointer by Frye just 4:22 into the game. The two-time MVP had assists on five of Phoenix’s first six field goals and finished the first quarter with nine.

After a tight first half, the Nuggets outscored Phoenix 33-14 to start the third quarter, going up 93-72 on Al Harrington’s fastbreak dunk with 2:31 left in the period. The Suns, though, scored the final eight points of the quarter to cut it to 93-80 entering the fourth. The closest the Suns got after that was 105-95 on Brown’s 3 with 4:42 left. Lawson and Andre Miller followed with layups and Phoenix didn’t threaten again.

”We could never get them under control at the start of the third quarter,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. ”They got a couple of easy layups and we struggled to slow them down from there.”

Lawson scored 11 points in the third quarter, making 4 of 6 shots, including all three 3-point attempts.

The Nuggets led 60-58 after a first half that saw neither team lead by more than six points. Denver shot 59.5 percent in the first half, led by Lawson’s 7 for 9 for 16 points. The Suns shot 54 percent in the first half, with Gortat going 6 for 9 for 14 points.

Frye sustained a subluxed right shoulder when he went up for a rebound with 4:33 left in the first half. The Suns’ starting power forward, who leads the team with 91 3-pointers, missed nearly two weeks after dislocating the same shoulder late last season.

Notes: Nash, with 9,897 assists, trails only Magic Johnson (10,141), Mark Jackson (10,334), Jason Kidd (11,830 and counting) and John Stockton (15,806). … The Nuggets won the season series 3-0. … The Suns’ Robin Lopez, ejected for a ”flagrant 2” foul in the victory over the Clippers on Thursday, drew a technical from referee Rodney Mott with 6:09 left in the first half.

 

PHOENIX (AP)

Now that the Denver Nuggets are in the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season, there will be no letting up for the final three games of the regular season.

Coach George Karl wants his young team to gain some momentum, and there’s still a chance to pass Dallas for the No. 6 spot in the Western Conference.

Ty Lawson went 5 of 5 on three-pointers and had 29 points and 10 assists to lead Denver to the playoff-clinching 118-107 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday.

Denver pulled within a half-game of Dallas, which played at Chicago on Saturday night and holds the tiebreaker over Denver.

”We have three games left and we are going to try to win all three of them. There won’t be any rest going on here,” Karl said. ”We are not in that mode. We are into getting better and coming together. It is a young team that will have to learn how to win in the playoffs. On the job training, but it has been done before.”

The Suns fell a half-game behind Utah for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Jazz played at home against Orlando on Saturday night. Phoenix plays at Utah on Tuesday and holds the tiebreaker over the Jazz.

”We got to go into Utah — tough environment, tough atmosphere, tough team — and we got to win,” said the Suns’ Shannon Brown, who scored 28 points, including a career-best six threes in 12 attempts. ”That’s basically what it comes down to.”

Steve Nash of the Suns had 13 assists, nine in the first quarter, to pass Oscar Robertson into fifth place on the NBA’s career list. The Suns lost Channing Frye to a shoulder injury in the second quarter.

The Nuggets beat the Suns for the sixth straight time, three this season.

”They’ve got size, they got strength, they got a lot of skill, they can shoot the ball,” Nash said. ”You know, they’ve got a really good team, a really deep team, so they’ve been causing a lot of problems for us and we haven’t been able to beat them.”

Arron Afflalo scored 19 points and Kenneth Faried had 16 for the Nuggets, who had six players finish in double figures, shot 55 percent from the field and had a 26-2 advantage on fastbreak points.

Lawson noted that the Suns, like so many other teams, passed on him in the 2009 draft. Phoenix chose Earl Clark at No. 14. Lawson finally went at No. 18 to Minnesota.

”I mean, that is probably the only added motivation I have,” Lawson said. ”It has nothing against Steve. He is definitely one of my idols, so you always want to see how good you are against your idols.”

Marcin Gortat had 18 points and 11 rebounds for Phoenix.

Denver used a third-period outburst to build a 21-point lead. The Suns cut it to 10 in the fourth quarter, but could get no closer.

Nash passed Robertson with his fourth assist, on a three-pointer by Frye just 4:22 into the game. The two-time MVP had assists on five of Phoenix’s first six field goals and finished the first quarter with nine.

After a tight first half, the Nuggets outscored Phoenix 33-14 to start the third quarter, going up 93-72 on Al Harrington’s fastbreak dunk with 2:31 left in the period. The Suns, though, scored the final eight points of the quarter to cut it to 93-80 entering the fourth. The closest the Suns got after that was 105-95 on Brown’s three with 4:42 left. Lawson and Andre Miller followed with layups and Phoenix didn’t threaten again.

”We could never get them under control at the start of the third quarter,” Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. ”They got a couple of easy layups and we struggled to slow them down from there.”

Lawson scored 11 points in the third quarter, making 4 of 6 shots, including all three three-point attempts.

The Nuggets led 60-58 after a first half that saw neither team lead by more than six points. Denver shot 59.5 percent in the first half, led by Lawson’s 7 for 9 for 16 points. The Suns shot 54 percent in the first half, with Gortat going 6 for 9 for 14 points.

Frye sustained a subluxed right shoulder when he went up for a rebound with 4:33 left in the first half. The Suns’ starting power forward, who leads the team with 91 three-pointers, missed nearly two weeks after dislocating the same shoulder late last season.

NOTES: Nash, with 9,897 assists, trails only Magic Johnson (10,141), Mark Jackson (10,334), Jason Kidd (11,830 and counting) and John Stockton (15,806). … The Nuggets won the season series 3-0. … The Suns’ Robin Lopez, ejected for a flagrant-2 foul in the victory over the Clippers on Thursday, drew a technical from referee Rodney Mott with 6:09 left in the first half.

Kenyon Martin helped beat his old team with a tip-in and blocked shot in the final half-minute, leading the Los Angeles Clippers past the Denver Nuggets 104-98 on Wednesday night.

Martin tipped in Chris Paul’s missed jumper with 27 seconds left and the game tied at 96, then blocked Ty Lawson at the other end with 20 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Paul made two free throws with 18.3 seconds left to make it a four-point game.

The Nuggets got back within two on Lawson’s free throws with 16 seconds remaining, but Mo Williams, who scored 19 points and came up huge in the fourth quarter, replied with two free throws and Paul, who led the Clippers with 21 points, capped the game with an uncontested dunk.

With their 13th win in 15 games, the Clippers moved into a first-place tie in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Lakers, who played at Golden State later Wednesday night.

Despite 24 points from Lawson, the Nuggets lost at home for the first time since March 19, and slipped into seventh place in the West, a half-game behind Dallas, which beat Houston 117-110 on Wednesday.

After Lawson’s 3-pointer put the Nuggets ahead 87-82 midway through the fourth quarter, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run with two 3s from Williams to take a five-point lead.

Williams’ most impressive 3-pointer came with the Clippers clinging to a 92-89 lead. Paul lost the handle on the ball with the shot clock winding down, Williams scooped it up and let loose an off-balance prayer that swished as the buzzer went off, giving the Clippers a six-point lead with 3 minutes left.

Kenneth Faried’s three-point play with 1:21 left pulled Denver to 96-94. After Paul missed a jumper, Andre’ Miller was fouled and made both free throws to tie it with just under a minute remaining.

Blake Griffin scored 12 points, eight shy of his average, for the Clippers. He was held in check for much of the first half by Faried but he broke free for three straight dunks, each more impressive than the last, in the closing minutes as the Clippers pulled to 53-47 at halftime.

His first two dunk attempts of the second half went awry, however. On the first, Faried appeared to have a clean block but was whistled for the foul and Griffin missed both free throws. On his next touch, Griffin skied for the hoop but the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced back almost to midcourt.

Still, the Clippers kept possession and Randy Foye made two free throws as the Clippers went on a 14-2 run to start the second half and take a 61-55 lead.

The game was tied at 76 after Denver closed the third quarter on a 17-9 run capped by Lawson’s basket after swiping DeAndre Jordan’s inbounds pass after a dunk by JaVale McGee.

The Nuggets got some bad news before the game when versatile forward Wilson Chandler learned his season was over. He needs surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip.

Chandler arrived in Denver last February as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. He played for Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout and rejoined the Nuggets a month ago, signing a five-year deal worth nearly $37 million.

The 24-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in eight games, including six starts, but spent more time on the sideline than on the court after hurting his hip. Chandler returned Monday night against Houston after missing eight games, but he retreated to the bench after logging just 7 minutes.

Notes: Chandler said he hoped to have surgery next week. … The Nuggets’ win at Houston on Monday night allowed the Clippers to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006. … Lawson was credited with a basket early in the fourth quarter when Jordan grabbed the net with one hand while going up for the block.

Kenyon Martin helped beat his old team with a tip-in and blocked shot in the final half-minute, leading the Los Angeles Clippers past the Denver Nuggets 104-98 on Wednesday night. Martin tipped in Chris Paul’s missed jumper with 27 seconds left and the game tied at 96, then blocked Ty Lawson at the other end with 20 seconds remaining. After a timeout, Paul made two free throws with 18.3 seconds left to make it a four-point game. The Nuggets got back within two on Lawson’s free throws with 16 seconds remaining, but Mo Williams, who scored 19 points and came up huge in the fourth quarter, replied with two free throws and Paul, who led the Clippers with 21 points, capped the game with an uncontested dunk. With their 13th win in 15 games, the Clippers moved into a first-place tie in the Pacific Division with the Los Angeles Lakers, who played at Golden State later Wednesday night. Despite 24 points from Lawson, the Nuggets lost at home for the first time since March 19, and slipped into seventh place in the West, a half-game behind Dallas, which beat Houston 117-110 on Wednesday. After Lawson’s 3-pointer put the Nuggets ahead 87-82 midway through the fourth quarter, the Clippers went on a 10-0 run with two 3s from Williams to take a five-point lead. Williams’ most impressive 3-pointer came with the Clippers clinging to a 92-89 lead. Paul lost the handle on the ball with the shot clock winding down, Williams scooped it up and let loose an off-balance prayer that swished as the buzzer went off, giving the Clippers a six-point lead with 3 minutes left. Kenneth Faried’s three-point play with 1:21 left pulled Denver to 96-94. After Paul missed a jumper, Andre’ Miller was fouled and made both free throws to tie it with just under a minute remaining. Blake Griffin scored 12 points, eight shy of his average, for the Clippers. He was held in check for much of the first half by Faried but he broke free for three straight dunks, each more impressive than the last, in the closing minutes as the Clippers pulled to 53-47 at halftime. His first two dunk attempts of the second half went awry, however. On the first, Faried appeared to have a clean block but was whistled for the foul and Griffin missed both free throws. On his next touch, Griffin skied for the hoop but the ball hit the back of the rim and bounced back almost to midcourt. Still, the Clippers kept possession and Randy Foye made two free throws as the Clippers went on a 14-2 run to start the second half and take a 61-55 lead. The game was tied at 76 after Denver closed the third quarter on a 17-9 run capped by Lawson’s basket after swiping DeAndre Jordan’s inbounds pass after a dunk by JaVale McGee. The Nuggets got some bad news before the game when versatile forward Wilson Chandler learned his season was over. He needs surgery to repair a labral tear in his left hip. Chandler arrived in Denver last February as part of the blockbuster trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks. He played for Zhejiang Guangsha of the Chinese Basketball Association during the NBA lockout and rejoined the Nuggets a month ago, signing a five-year deal worth nearly $37 million. The 24-year-old averaged 9.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in eight games, including six starts, but spent more time on the sideline than on the court after hurting his hip. Chandler returned Monday night against Houston after missing eight games, but he retreated to the bench after logging just 7 minutes. Notes: Chandler said he hoped to have surgery next week. … The Nuggets’ win at Houston on Monday night allowed the Clippers to clinch their first playoff berth since 2006. … Lawson was credited with a basket early in the fourth quarter when Jordan grabbed the net with one hand while going up for the block.