Smith, who finished with 12 points, was fouled by Monta Ellis with 0.4 seconds to play as he put up a desperation shot from half court and proceeded to convert two of the three foul shots.
Denver had been down by five points with 2 minutes to play. A 6-0 run gave the Nuggets a 121-120 lead with 24.6 seconds to play.
Golden State grabbed the lead again on an Ellis layup with 15.2 seconds remaining. Denver failed to score on its next possession but got the ball back on a jump ball, setting the stage for the decisive foul on Smith.
Kenyon Martin scored 27 points to lead the injury-depleted Nuggets, who were without Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups and had lost six of the previous eight games. Joey Graham added 20 points.
Corey Maggette rattled off 35 points and grabbed seven rebounds for Golden State. Ellis scored 32 points and Stephen Curry added 26.
Copyright 2010 by United Press International.
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