Denver 96, New Orleans 88

Danilo Gallinari scored 23 points to lead five players in double-figures and Denver Nuggets won their fourth straight with a 96-88 victory over the host New Orleans Hornets on Friday night.

Al Harrington scored 14 points, Arron Afflalo and Andre Miller had 13 apiece and Ty Lawson chipped in 12 for the Nuggets, who rallied with a 19-0 run spanning the third and fourth quarters.

Denver forced 17 turnovers, leading to 22 points.

Greivis Vasquez had 16 points on four 3-pointers to pace New Orleans. Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry each added 15.

Hornets leading-scorer Eric Gordon missed the game after it was announced that he would be sidelined two-to-three weeks because of swelling in his knee.

The Nuggets trailed 63-54 with 2:15 to go in the third quarter before scoring 19 unanswered points.

Miller’s jumper to start the fourth gave Denver its first lead. After a short jumper from Kosta Koufos, Miller made a layup and free throw, Rudy Fernandez had a layup and Lawson hit a pair from the line to cap the spurt and make it 73-63.

Vasquez hit a pair of 3-pointers to keep the Hornets within striking distance but it wasn’t enough as they dropped their fifth straight.

• New Orleans will play their next game on the road against Dallas. The Hornets have a W/L % of .667 after a win and .000 after a loss.
• Denver will play their next game on the road against San Antonio . The Nuggets have a W/L % of .833 after a win and .500 after a loss.