DALLAS -- He sat in the Nuggets locker room with ice on his knees and right elbow smiling.He also looked tired.
But Carmelo Anthony had a reason to be. He made the biggest shot of his NBA career, a 3-pointer with one second to play, to give the Nuggets a dramatic victory over the Mavericks on Saturday.
The victory has pushed the Nuggets to a 3-0 lead in this Western Conference series. And Game 3 was ugly. The three days off between Games 2 and 3 might have something to do with it. The 61 fouls called also bothered the flow of the game.
But when it was time for something special to happen, Anthony made it so.
"Look at his growth this season," Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups said of Anthony. "All around and his whole career, he's really grown up a lot. It's good to see people make strides for themselves and being successful and reap the benefits of doing the right thing. I'm happy for Melo."
Anthony didn't play a wonderful game. He missed 15 shots in 41 minutes, but the last shot he made pushed the Mavericks to the brink.
The game closed down on three key plays. Anthony scored on a dunk with 28.5 seconds to play to bring the Nuggets to within 105-103. Dirk Nowitzki missed a 13-footer over Kenyon Martin that allowed the Nuggets to call timeout with 6.5 seconds remaining.
The play in the Nuggets huddle was to get a shot for Billups, who was going to post up in the corner. The play in the Mavericks huddle was to foul, because they had one to give before the penalty.
Anthony took the pass from Billups and moved toward his right. Anthony lost the ball but regained it as the clock wound down. Dallas coach Rick Carlisle screamed for Antoine Wright to foul. Wright reached around Anthony and hit the shoulder, but nothing was called.
Anthony then hit his shot in front of the Mavericks bench, sending the Nuggets onto the floor in a frenzy. A last-second shot by Nowitzki was short ending the game.
"It's just a shame," Carlise said. "Mark [Wunderlich] is a good official, an experienced official. I assume that they know we have a foul to give and we would take it."
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LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers grabs for the officals whistle during the first half of Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoff basketball game in Atlanta, Georgia, May 9, 2009. REUTERS/Pouya Dianat (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during a free throw against the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: Anderson Varejao #17 of the Cleveland Cavaliers rebounds against Al Horford #15 of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Anderson Varejao;Al Horford
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers reacts after a call against the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James
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Cleveland Cavaliers' Joe Smith scores as Atlanta Hawks Josh Smith (5) and Zaza Pachulia of Georgia defend in the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals basketball playoffs in Atlanta, Saturday, May 9, 2009. (AP Photo/John Amis)
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Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith scores in the second quarter of Game 3 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Atlanta, Saturday, May 9, 2009. (AP Photo/John Amis)
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LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to the officials during the first half of Game 3 of their NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoff basketball game in Atlanta, Georgia May 9, 2009. REUTERS/Pouya Dianat (UNITED STATES SPORT BASKETBALL)
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers drives against Maurice Evans #1 of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** LeBron James;Maurice Evans
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ATLANTA - MAY 09: Joe Johnson #2 of the Atlanta Hawks defends against Mo Williams #2 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mo Williams;Joe Johnson
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ATLANTA - MAY 9: Delonte West #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers shoots against Al Horford #15 of the Atlanta Hawks in Game Three of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena on May 9, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Delonte West;Al Horford
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Wright said he fouled Anthony, but it really didn't matter.
On the last two possessions, Anthony took over. The Mavericks held a four-point lead with about 30 seconds left before Anthony's dunk and three-pointer ended things.
"I've hit a lot of big shots during my short career, but I never hit a big shot in a playoff like this," Anthony said. "In a situation like this, there's a thin line between 2-1 and 3-0 and that shot was it."
Making clutch shots is nothing new for Anthony. He's made 10 career game-winning baskets in his career, the last one in the regular season was on a layup on Feb. 4 at Oklahoma City. He also hit the go-ahead shot, with 12 seconds to play against the Mavericks on March 27. In that game, Anthony scored 43 points.
There are also growing pains. In a Game 3 loss to New Orleans, in the first round, Anthony missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.
He made his big shot Saturday.
As Anthony walked toward the team bus, he was asked if that was the biggest shot he made ever, counting high school.
"Hell yeah," he said with a wide smile.
It's moments such as these that can propel players to superstar status. The NBA is about Kobe and LeBron right now. On Saturday, Anthony was able to get to the stage.
"He's made big shots his whole career," Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin said. "This is not the first game when he's made one and I'm pretty sure it won't be the last."
