Nuggets get better of Heat at home

A year ago at this time, the Miami Heat couldn’t lose.

These days, they can’t win.

And what at first looked like a mere rough stretch is now concerning to the Heat, who watched the Denver Nuggets come into their building and outscore them by 30 points over one stretch Friday.

Kenneth Faried scored 24 points, Darrell Arthur led a big effort by Denver’s bench with 18, and the Nuggets beat the reeling Heat, 111-107, sending the two-time defending NBA champions to their fifth loss in six games.

“We always have one defining moment,” Heat forward LeBron James said. “And this is it right here for us.”

The loss sent Miami three games behind Indiana in the race for the No. 1 seeding in the Eastern Conference.

at Charlotte 105, Minnesota 93: Al Jefferson had 25 points and 16 rebounds to set a single-season franchise record with his 20th 20-point, 10-rebound game of the season and the Bobcats held Kevin Love scoreless in the second half.

Washington 105, at Orlando 101 (OT): Wizards’ John Wall overcame a poor shooting night to score 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter and overtime while teammate Trevor Ariza finished with 21 points and 11 rebounds.

Indiana 101, at Philadelphia 94: The 76ers lost for the 19th straight time, one game short of tying the franchise record for consecutive defeats in a single season.

at Toronto 99, Memphis 86: Jonas Valanciunas scored a season-high 23 points, Kyle Lowry had 22 points and 12 assists against his former team and the Raptors won for the 11th time in 14 games.

Phoenix 87, at Boston 80: The Suns scored just 58 points in the last three quarters, but had the last seven in the victory. The Celtics made a season-low 30.9% of their shots and missed 65.

Portland 111, at New Orleans 103: Damian Lillard scored 27 points as the Trail Blazers snapped a four-game skid while playing without injured All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge. Anthony Davis scored a career-high 36 points for the Pelicans.

Cleveland 103, at Golden State 94: Spencer Hawes had 22 points and 13 rebounds to help the Cavaliers erase an 18-point first-half deficit and snap a six-game losing streak against the Warriors.