DENVER, March 16 (Ticker) -- It did not come easily, but the Seattle SuperSonics found a way to defeat the Denver Nuggets.

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Brent Barry sparked a key late rally with a three-pointer as the SuperSonics trimmed the Nuggets, 92-84.

Rashard Lewis scored 24 points and Ray Allen added 20 for Seattle, which had lost seven of its previous eight road contests and four of five overall.

Seattle led throughout and began the fourth quarter with a 73-64 edge but saw its lead dwindle to 78-77 on a jumper by Juwan Howard with 6:37 left. Barry countered with a three-pointer to begin an 8-0 run, which ended on an alley-oop layup feed from Barry to Lewis with 2:21 to go.

"It was a huge shot," Sonics coach Nate McMillan said. "Brent was able to break the ice and get one to go in. It kind of sealed the game, made them think their run was over."

"It is about time that I made a big one," Barry said. "It was the toughest shot I had all night. It's funny how these games can come down to one shot like that. It took the breath out of them a little bit."

Denver got no closer than seven points down the stretch.

"It was gut-check time tonight with us losing last night (against Golden State)," McMillan said. "We had a few guys banged up but we were able to hold them off and finish the game."

Howard scored 22 points to pace the Nuggets, who have lost 16 of their last 18 games overall.

The Nuggets, who have lost eight of nine at home, failed in their quest to win back-to-back games for the first time since Feb. 2-4.

"They're a scrappy team," McMillan said. "They play for 48 minutes. They play hard defensively."

Seattle led by just 24-22 after one quarter but extended its advantage to 56-45 by the half.

"The tone was set in the first half with our lackluster effort," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "We allowed them to shoot 56 percent in the first half. Even though we allowed them to shoot 36 percent in the second half, our inability to play as a team on defense and offense put us in a hole."

The Sonics shot 46 percent overall (35-of-76) and the Nuggets 44 percent (34-of-78). Seattle made five three-pointers to just two for Denver.

"They shot the ball great tonight, but we allowed them to get some easy shots," said Nuggets guard Shammond Williams, who went 3-of-10 from the field, including 0-of-5 from the arc. "We have to put this game behind us and get ready for Utah (on Tuesday). We have to solidify ourselves -- we are a better defensive team than that."

With the win, Seattle remained five games behind Houston for the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

"We have lost to these guys before (on Jan. 3), and we needed this game," McMillan said. "We cannot afford to relax. The team that works the hardest and executes the best will win these games."