DENVER, Feb. 24 (Ticker) -- The Golden State Warriors certainly would like to hold on to Gilbert Arenas. But if he gets away, they have a couple of reserve guards who may be able to help.

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Arenas scored 19 points and backup backcourt men Earl Boykins and Bob Sura provided a lift as the Warriors held on for a 94-89 victory over the Denver Nuggets, who have lost nine straight games.

Arenas is a second-year point guard who is one of the NBA's most improved players. A restricted free agent at the end of the season, The MVP of the Rookie Challenge can only be offered the mid-level exception by the Warriors, who are over the salary cap.

That may not be enough to keep Arenas, who could command more on the open market. One of the few teams that figures to have considerable salary cap room this summer is the Nuggets, who are in dire need of a scorer who can run the offense - two of Arenas' strongest traits.

"I don't think about it," Arenas said. "I still have half a season left. I have to wait until the summer. You never know."

Arenas was not particularly sharp, making 6-of-16 shots and handing out just three assists. But he led the team in scoring for the eighth time in 12 games this month, helping keep the Warriors on the cusp of the Western Conference playoff race.

Boykins, a 5-5 backup point guard, had 14 points and seven assists. Sura, a 6-5 combo guard, added 13 points, including a clutch 3-pointer down the stretch.

Despite just 17 points from their other four starters, the Warriors beat the Nuggets for the third time in as many meetings this season. Golden State had five players in double figures, four off the bench.

"I was concerned about scoring points off the bench but those guys found a way to score tonight," said Warriors coach Eric Musselman, whose bench held a 56-30 scoring edge. "I thought we did a good job getting the pace up."

Juwan Howard scored 29 points for the Nuggets, who shot 36 percent (32-of-90) from the field, missed 12 free throws and committed 24 turnovers.

"We just get to a point where we cannot score," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "I am not going to keep making excuses. I need to get them to start winning. We have lost 45 times, and it is time that we start to win. That is what we are getting paid to do."

The Nuggets trailed by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter but closed to 83-77 on a three-point play by Howard with 5:45 remaining. They had a chance to get closer, but rookie Nene Hilario missed a pair of free throws.

Arenas sank a pair from the line. Howard answered with two free throws, but Sura beat the shot clock with a long 3-pointer that made it 88-79 with 3:37 to go.

Hilario made 1-of-2 foul shots on three straight trips to the line. Howard scored inside to cut the deficit to 90-84, but Boykins and Sura each made two free throws around a 3-pointer Shammond Williams to seal the win.

"Boykins and Arenas did a great job," Nuggets forward Donnell Harvey said. "They led the team well."

In Boykins' 26 minutes, the Warriors outscored the Nuggets, 58-42.

"You know they (Nuggets) are going to give 100 percent every night," Boykins said. "They're the type of team (that) if you don't match their energy or their effort, you can't beat them."

Chris Mills had 14 points and eight rebounds and Adonal Foyle scored 11 points for the Warriors, who shot just 36 percent (29-of-81) but made 33-of-39 free throws. Golden State won despite just nine points from Antawn Jamison, who averages over 22 points per game.

"Chris Mills, who had not played in around 20 games, came out and played like he had not missed a game all year," Arenas said.

Hilario had 14 points and 12 rebounds but made just 6-of-12 free throws. Harvey added 10 points and 10 boards for the Nuggets.

Denver held a 22-17 lead after one quarter, but Boykins, Sura and fellow reserve Foyle scored all the points in a 13-0 burst that opened the second period and gave Golden State the lead for good.

"They came out and caught their wind right off the bat," Arenas said. "The starters were all tired out there."

"Our second unit really passed the ball," Musselman said. "They had good spacing and made really good cuts in the second quarter."

Two free throws by Boykins gave the Warriors their largest lead at 48-31 with 1:52 left in the first half.

Denver trailed 52-38 at halftime but closed to 75-67 entering the final period as Howard scored eight points in the third quarter.