DENVER, April 13 (Ticker) -- Voshon Lenard tallied 28 points as the Denver Nuggets nearly blew an 18-point fourth-quarter lead before holding on to defeat the Phoenix Suns, 98-94.

After Lenard hit a 3-pointer to give the Nuggets an 87-69 advantage with 6:36 remaining, the Suns stormed back and got within 93-88 on a 3-pointer by Stephon Marbury with 77 seconds left.

Following a defensive stop, Phoenix had a chance to get closer, but Marbury missed a driving layup with 39 seconds to go, and James Posey made 1-of-2 free throws three seconds later to give the Nuggets a six-point cushion.

Phoenix closed to 98-94 on a banked 3-point shot by Marbury with 5.4 seconds left, but the Nuggets successfully inbounded the ball and ran out the clock.

NBA TV highlights from Suns-Nuggets: 56k | 300k Donnell Harvey recorded the first double-double of his career with his 15 points, 10 rebound effort. William R. Sallaz NBAE/Getty Images

Donnell Harvey recorded his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds for Denver, which won its season-high fifth straight home game and earned its first season series victory over Phoenix in six years.

"I felt we didn't really have that much inside presence with Juwan (Howard) out so I felt I had to step up to the table," Harvey said. "I felt I did a pretty good job tonight. I knew I had to go out and play hard if we were going to win this game."

The Nuggets were without Howard, the team's leading scorer and rebounder, who suffered a strained groin in the team's win over Golden State on Friday.

Shawn Marion had 22 points and 13 rebounds and Marbury 18 points and 11 assists for the Suns, who lost for the sixth time in seven games.

"It's tough when you dig yourself into a hole, you have to play a lot harder than normal," Marbury said. "We're not playing for anything but you have to go out and play hard. We need to play the way we played in the fourth quarter the entire game. It's not the scoring that's a problem, it's going after loose balls and rebounds and playing defense. The rest just happens."

Both teams will miss the playoffs.

"Again we attempt to come back and again we fall short," Suns coach Frank Johnson said. "Our guys think we can turn it on and off like a faucet, they think they're the Lakers. You can't do it, it'll never happen. We've got to make plays, simple basketball plays. We had 14 unnecessary turnovers, not because of their pressure and loose balls."

Denver took the lead for good at 29-27 on a 3-pointer from James Posey three minutes into the second quarter. The Nuggets stretched their advantage to 52-40 at halftime and 78-60 entering the fourth quarter before narrowly withstanding the Suns' comeback in the final six minutes.

"For me and the rest of the young guys, at least we have confidence at the end of this season to go into next season," Harvey said.