Denver Nuggets guard Allen Iverson drives past Cleveland Cavaliers' Daniel Gibson in their NBA game in Denver on Monday night. Denver won 122-100. - Reuters

DENVER (Reuters):

THE DENVER Nuggets eased to a 122-100 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night, Allen Iverson leading the way with a season-high 37 points, as the hosts stretched their winning streak to three games.

Iverson put the Nuggets (5-3) in command with 18 first-half points, then stretched Denver's lead to 76-49 with 11 more in the first five minutes of the third quarter.

"We jumped on them right from the beginning. We should try to do that every game," Iverson said.

He connected on 14-of-20 field goal attempts to go with eight assists and two steals.

"The basket was like the ocean and I was throwing rocks," Iverson said.

J.R. Smith was almost as productive, adding 29 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the floor as the Nuggets hit 55 per cent of their shots.

Carmelo Anthony added 22 points and nine rebounds to move 6-2 ahead in games won against Cleveland ace LeBron James.

"Any time I can win, that's fun," Anthony said.

"Whether it's against him or anybody."

James led Cleveland (4-4) with 27 points, going nine-of-16 from the floor.

Cavaliers guard Larry Hughes was ejected in the first half after arguing with referees.

The 122 points were the most scored against the Cavaliers in Mike Brown's three seasons as coach.

"Denver did whatever they wanted to defensively and they did whatever they wanted to do offensively," Brown said.

Meanwhile, Chris Paul's layup with less than three seconds to play lifted the New Orleans Hornets to an 84-82 road victory over the New Jersey Nets.

Paul finished with 27 points, his best performance of the season.

Richard Jefferson scored 32 points for the Nets, who played without the injured Vince Carter.

Carlos Boozer had 32 points and 10 rebounds to power the Utah Jazz to their fourth straight victory, a 117-93 home win over the Sacramento Kings.

John Salmons paced Sacramento with 22 points.