DENVER (Ticker) -- The Denver Nuggets' increasing proficiency from the free-throw line saved them from a collapse.
Rookie Carmelo Anthony and Andre Miller combined to make 11-of-12 free throws in the final three minutes as the Nuggets extended their season-high winning streak to six games with a 98-91 victory over the Golden State Warriors.
Despite a roster loaded with young players and no established stars, Denver is third in the league in free throws made and has gotten to the line more than any other team except the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Nuggets were 25-of-32 from the line on Friday to secure their first six-game winning streak since January 21-February 2, 1991.
Denver squandered a 20-point third-quarter cushion before taking the lead for good at 89-88 on a pair of free throws by Miller with 2:19 remaining. Anthony, who scored seven of his 28 points in the final four minutes, added a pair 51 seconds later.
Miller made 1-of-2 from the line with 31 seconds left, Voshon Lenard sank a pair with 23 seconds to go and Anthony capped the scoring with two more, finishing 8-of-9 from the stripe.
"Free throws was a big thing for us tonight," Anthony said. "Overall, we did a great job."
"We showed a lot of courage and character down the stretch," Denver coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "Winning can be a very difficult thing in this league, so it is always good to get a win."
Miller finished with 14 points and 14 assists and Marcus Camby added 13 points and 13 rebounds as the Nuggets (13-6) continued their best start since the 1989-90 season.
"Our chemistry is really coming together," Anthony said. "We kept our composure and we won."
Having won at Golden State on Wednesday, Denver completed a home-and-home sweep while extending its winning streak at the Pepsi Center to seven games. The Nuggets are 10-1 at home this season.
Mike Dunleavy Jr. scored 19 points in 19 minutes and former Nugget Nick Van Exel had 15 and nine assists for the Warriors, who missed 11-of-21 free throws, including five of their final six.
"It's just a mental thing right now and it definitely cost us the game tonight," Van Exel said.
Golden State coach Eric Musselman was ejected with 11:15 left in the third quarter and his team was trailing by 20 after Lenard buried the technical foul shot and a jumper.
Musselman's emotion seemed to spark the Warriors, who caught fire and claimed an 80-79 lead on Calbert Cheaney's jumper with five minutes to go.
"We played with more of a sense of urgency in the second half," Musselman said. "We had a good effort in the second half. Our guys didn't quit."
Camby responded with a dunk and made 1-of-2 free throws before assisting on Anthony's 3-pointer with 3:50 remaining. The teams traded baskets before Robinson gave the Warriors their final lead at 88-87 on a 3-pointer - their fourth in five attempts in the period.
