To all 2500 fans it looked as though the Nuggets had sealed a 80-78 victory when Mark Dickel hit a buzzer-beater in the dying seconds of the game.
The crowd erupted in a primal roar only for the officials to rule the shot had come too late.
Everybody had to sit back down and brace themselves for another five minutes.
The Nuggets were not going to be denied a second time. Anthony hit a crucial three-pointer to wrest control of the game for the home side.
Hawks swingman Paora Winitana stumbled out of bounds twice in the final stages to help hand the Nuggets their eight consecutive win this season.
The franchise has extended its winning streak to 10 games but this was a close escape.
Anthony got into foul trouble midway through the third quarter and was sitting on four fouls during most of the final quarter.
Somehow he stayed out of trouble and scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to get his side into a position to win the match.
The Nuggets had fallen behind 67-63 before Anthony went on his rampage.
The league is blind if Anthony's haul of 25 points and 10 rebounds is not followed by a player of the week award.
Dickel was superb again. He picked himself off the floor perhaps half-a-dozen times and also caught a elbow from Winitana in the nose.
Nothing stopped the little general, though. He went close to a triple-double with 10 points, eight assists and eight rebounds.
Akeem Wright had a tough night, landing six from 20 from the field. But the tireless worker still amassed 18 points and 12 rebounds.
The Hawks were led by imports Brian Greene, who scored 26 points, and Darko Cohadarevic, who snatched 16 rebounds and scored 16 points. Winitana also chipped in with 20 points.
With the Hawks' season perilously poised, the visiting side started with more intensity than the home side.
Riki Buckrell responded for the Nuggets with a brace of sharply executed three-pointers and a lay-up. But his side trailed until Hayden Allen hit a clutch three-point buzzer-beater to give his side a 24-23 lead at the break.
Having got in front, the Nuggets scored seven unanswered points to build a useful buffer.
Wright's shooting touch had deserted him but he kept looking for ways to stay involved and made some determined drives to the hoop.
The Hawks had come to play, though, and twice clawed back 10-point leads to go halftime trailing 43-40.
Greene put the Hawks back in front with a mid-range jumper.
Nuggets coach Alf Arlidge called a time out with his side trailing by six and under more pressure at home than it has been all season.
Dickel responded with a three-pointer but Greene drilled another fade away jumper over Antoine Tisby's out stretched arms.
Once again, Allen came up with an inspired play. He stole the ball and ran up court before off-loading to Luke Aston, who completed the lay-up and tied the scores at 57 apiece.
Referee Melony Wealleans surpassed Donnette Daly's record for officiating in the most NBL matches by a woman. It was her 226th game.
Nuggets v Hawks
The scores
Nuggets ... 90
BJ Anthony 25, Akeem Wright 18, Hayden Allen 14
Hawks ... 85
Brian Greene 26, Paora Winitana 20, Darko Cohadarevic 16
Quarter scores: 1st 24-23, 2nd 43-40, 3rd 57-57, 4th 78-78
