DENVER (AP) Carmelo Anthony and Denver's fans made sure Kobe Bryant didn't enjoy his return to Colorado.

Anthony had 20 points and helped harass Bryant into a poor shooting night, leading the Nuggets to a rout of the Lakers in Bryant's first game in Colorado since he was accused of sexual assault last summer.

Bryant was booed from the start and never found a rhythm offensively, finishing with 27 points on 8-of-23 shooting with five turnovers.

The crowd booed Bryant loudly during introductions and kept it going every time he touched the ball. A chant of ``Guilty! Guilty!'' rang out midway through the third quarter, and several fans made sexual references throughout the game.

Mavericks 105, Warriors 99

DALLAS (AP) Dirk Nowitzki scored eight of his 23 points in the final 3:56, including a layup that put the Dallas Mavericks ahead for good against Nick Van Exel and the Golden State Warriors.

The Warriors lost their seventh straight overall and eighth straight on the road, lows they hadn't hit in two seasons. This also was their 19th straight loss to the Mavericks.

Van Exel _ who had 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds _ remade his image during his stint in Dallas, going from cranky misfit to beloved big-game star until being traded to Golden State in August. He left angry with team owner Mark Cuban, but on great terms with his former coaches, teammates and the fans, who gave him a nice pregame ovation.

MORE