Nuggets end road woes with 113-99 win over Bobcats

Lawson had a team-high 20 points, marking the 13th time in 19 games he's reached the 20-point plateau, and JaVale McGee had 17 points, including seven of his team's 14 dunks.

"If we get to 53 or 54 (wins) I think that we'll get that fourth seed" in the playoffs, Lawson said. "But we know it's going to be a grind for the next couple weeks, couple months."

Perhaps not — if Lawson keeps playing the way he has.

Nuggets coach George Karl said Lawson has developed a better understanding of the rhythm of the game and is becoming more assertive in running the offense. He also said Lawson is gaining confidence with his jumper — something he didn't have earlier this season.

The rest, Karl said, might be out of his hands.

"If he got a fair whistle, he would probably score a lot more points," Karl said.

At several points during the game Karl argued for a foul to be called against the Bobcats. He was slapped with a technical foul when he offered a sarcastic response to the referees after a call finally went his way.

"Ty sometimes is so strong and so quick, I think he gets hit but he doesn't get knocked off balance," Karl said. "As we are aware, a foul is a foul. I have always felt that skinny guys get more calls than strong fullback type guys. Ty has that body that, you know, he is as fast as anyone in the game but he doesn't ever get knocked off balance and because of that I don't think he gets as many calls as he deserves."

Lawson said the big difference in recent weeks has been being more aggressive and attacking the basket.

"I figure when I start being aggressive and getting to the lane, things happen for me whether it's scoring or getting assists," Lawson said.

The Nuggets hadn't won on the road since Jan. 23 but scored 66 points in the paint behind 14 dunks to snap the skid.

Lawson had nine of his 20 points in the final quarter and handed out five assists as the Nuggets broke open a close game early in the fourth with a flurry of fast-break points.

Kenneth Faried finished with 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting, Corey Brewer had 14 and Andre Iguodala chipped in with 13 points and 10 assists.