Denver, CO -- (Sports Network) - J.R. Smith scored a season-high 40 points on 15- of-23 shooting, as Denver made short work of Washington, 116-105, at the Pepsi Center.

Chris Andersen had a career-best 18 points to go with 11 rebounds and six blocks for Denver, which won its fifth straight game. Carmelo Anthony dropped 20 points and Nene 11. Anthony Carter dished out a game-high 10 assists in the win.

"I think we just, over the last couple games, (have been able to) get out in the open court," Anthony said. "Getting out in transition (is) really helping us out. Guys are making shots and trying to get easy baskets."

Renaldo Balkman chipped in nine points and six boards for the Nuggets, who sit atop the Northwest Division with a 1 1/2-game lead over Portland and Utah.

Antawn Jamison finished with 27 points and seven boards for the Wizards, who lost their third straight and 10th time in 12 games. Nick Young added 20 points and JaVale McGee 13 with 11 boards. Andray Blatche and Oleksiy Pecherov gave 10 points each.

"(Denver) did a good job defensively; they force you into turnovers and then they get out and run," said Wizards head coach Ed Tapscott. "Too much of that. I tip my hat to the Nuggets; they're really the reason why we didn't get done what we needed to get done."

The Wizards were up 31-28 after the first quarter, but the Nuggets grabbed a 58-51 lead at the break.

Two free throws from Anthony and one from Smith gave the Nuggets a 73-61 lead right around the midway point. The teams traded baskets and Denver was up 86-76 heading into the final 12 minutes.

Three points from Anthony, four from Andersen and a Carter-to-Balkman alley-oop dunk gave the Nuggets a 95-79 lead with 9:22 left to play. Denver cruised from there.

Game Notes

Denver's 45-25 mark ties a franchise record for best 70-game start...The Wizards fell to 0-3 on a four-game West Coast swing and are now a miserable 5-30 away from home. Washington will finish its trip by visiting Phoenix on Saturday...The Nuggets, who are 27-8 at the Pepsi Center, have won five straight over the Wizards, including a 124-103 rout in the nation's capital on February 6.