MINNEAPOLIS – Carmelo Anthony scored 35 points, Eduardo Najera outworked Minnesota’s post players for a double-double, and the Denver Nuggets beat the Timberwolves 106-92 on Friday night.

Najera had 14 points and 11 rebounds, and all five starters scored in double figures for the Nuggets, who have won nine of the last 11 games after starting the season 0-3. Anthony has scored at least 30 points in 11 of the last 12 games.

Kevin Garnett had 21 points and 11 rebounds and Ricky Davis also had 21 points for Minnesota, which has lost three straight.

Anthony scored 11 points in the third quarter as the Nuggets pulled away, doubling their halftime lead from 56-45 to 89-67. Anthony scored from the inside and the outside, attacking the rim and Garnett on one play for a basket and then hitting a running 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Denver the 22-point lead.

Minnesota missed 14 of 23 shots in the quarter. The Wolves did not get closer than 13 the rest of the way.

Denver outrebounded Minnesota 52-40, led by Reggie Evans’ 16 boards. Andre Miller added nine rebounds to go with 17 points.

The Nuggets opened up a double-digit lead in the second, highlighted by one of the most unlikely baskets of the season. With 6:20 left in the quarter, J.R. Smith raced to the baseline to save a loose ball and instead of trying to put the ball in play, he shot it while jumping out of bounds, swishing the 3-pointer to put Denver up 43-31.

Denver led the entire opening quarter and was up 28-20 with 1:47 left before the Wolves closed the first with five straight points, including Marko Jaric’s bank shot from halfcourt at the buzzer.