Denver, CO -- (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony ended with 42 points and seven rebounds, as the Denver Nuggets out-gunned the Memphis Grizzlies, 133-123, to stay undefeated.

Anthony recorded his second consecutive 40-point game for the Nuggets, who moved to 3-0 this season. Chauncey Billups contributed 22 points and 12 assists, and Nene added 18 points, nine boards and six assists in the victory.

"My body feels good, my stamina feels great," Anthony said. "I just feel good all around. My confidence is up. I've got one thing ahead of me, which is that gold ball [atop the NBA Championship Trophy]."

O.J. Mayo paced Memphis with a career-high 40 points, and Marc Gasol added 20 points and 11 rebounds, but the Grizzlies fell for the second time in three games.

"They showed why they were Western Conference finalists [last season]," Memphis head coach Lionel Hollins said. "But we have to be proud of how we battled. If we continue to battle like that, we'll be happy."

Memphis used an eight-point run to take a 28-17 lead with over four minutes left in the first quarter, but Denver countered with the next seven in setting the tone for the high-powered contest.

Chris Andersen capped the quarter with a basket that drew Denver within 40-35, and Kenyon Martin's dunk to start the second got the Nuggets within three.

A three-pointer from Ty Lawson put the Nuggets ahead, 44-43, nearly three minutes into the period. The teams traded leads before Mayo's basket with time running out drew Memphis within 67-66 going to the break.

After a furious exchange of points at the start of the third, Denver scored seven points in a row to take an 85-76 lead. A few minutes later, Anthony Carter canned a three and Billups sank two free throws for a 98-85 advantage, though Mayo's jumper at the end of the frame got Memphis within 103-94 going to the fourth.

For how much scoring was done over the first three quarters, the teams combined for just 10 points in the first four minutes of the final frame.

But they were back to the races down the stretch, and with under five minutes left, Gasol made a basket and followed it with two free throws to get the Grizzlies within 118-113. Anthony countered with a jumper and Nene had two foul shots to push the Denver lead to nine.

Just under the two-minute mark, Arron Afflalo drained a three for a 127-116 game, and the Nuggets held on for the win.

Game Notes

Denver shot 55.3 percent overall, and knocked down 9-of-17 three- pointers...Memphis made 57.8 percent of its shots, including 8-of-18 from beyond the arc...Mayo's previous career high was 33...Anthony's 42 points tied the NBA season high. Portland's Brandon Roy and the Knicks' Al Harrington both scored that many Saturday.