Miller's Last Second Heroics Overruled; Nuggets Top Bulls 90-89

(Sports Network) - Chauncey Billups scored 17 points, including making the game-winning free throw with 0.6 seconds left, as the Denver Nuggets escaped with a 90-89 win over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center.

With the game deadlocked at 89 and 4.3 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Nuggets came out of a timeout and got the ball to Billups, who was fouled driving to the basket with under a second to go. The cool-handed veteran made the first free throw before intentionally missing the second, leaving 0.3 seconds on the clock after a Bulls' timeout and the Nuggets up, 90-89.

Kirk Hinrich inbounded the ball along the near sideline at midcourt and found a wide-opened Brad Miller, who nailed a quick catch-and-shoot effort from the top of the key. The officials initially ruled Miller got the shot off before the game clock went off, which would have given Chicago the win. However, after a lengthy gathering by the officials to review the courtside relay monitor, they overturned the call, and Denver escaped with the one-point victory.

Carmelo Anthony went for a team-high 20 points, while Kenyon Martin contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which snapped a brief two- game slide; the Nuggets have won six of eight to start the season. Nene chipped in with 11 points and 12 boards, and Arron Afflalo contributed 10 points.

J.R. Smith made his season debut after serving a seven-game suspension and logged five points and as many assists in nearly 29 1/2 minutes of action. He spent 24 days in a New Jersey correctional facility in the offseason stemming from a guilty plea after a 2007 traffic accident that killed a passenger in Smith's car. He was also suspended for two games at the start of the 2007-08 season due to the crash.

Derrick Rose had a game-best 22 points for the Bulls, who had a three-game winning streak snapped. Luol Deng added 21 points, while Joakim Noah had a huge game with a career-high 21 rebounds to go along with 12 points for Chicago, which suffered its first home loss of the young season.

The Nuggets held a slim 22-20 lead after the opening 12 minutes, but Anthony ignited a 13-5 Denver run with five straight points to start the second, and the Nuggets went up by double digits at 35-25 near the 8 1/2 minute mark.

Chicago would quickly cut the deficit to single digits, and Rose's jumper with under 40 seconds left in the half got the Bulls to within a 46-43 margin at the intermission.

In the third with the game tied at 61 with 4:12 left in the quarter, a Martin tip-in and Afflalo layup put Denver ahead by four, and the hosts would be up, 71-66, after three quarters.

The Nuggets would play the frontrunner for a good portion of the fourth period and held an 83-76 advantage after a Nene layup at the midway point. The lead would quickly disappear, as two jumpers by Rose and a three from John Salmons, surrounded by a pair of free throws from Billups, made it an 85-83 game with 3:16 left.

Denver remained in front until Rose's layup tied it at 87 with 33.9 seconds remaining. Anthony would respond for Denver with a baseline jumper, but Rose drained two free throws to even things at 89 with 10.4 ticks to play.

Denver and Chicago had split the previous 10 meetings coming into the contest...Martin, who was doubtful for the game with a left fibula contusion, played nearly 35 minutes...Salmons finished with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists.