NBA: Knicks end three-game skid at Nuggets' expense

NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks ended their three-game losing streak on Friday night (Saturday, PHL time), turning back the Denver Nuggets 117-90 at Madison Square Garden.

#Knicks put away Denver behind 31 points from @carmeloanthony! Tune in to @MSGNetworks NOW for postgame! pic.twitter.com/0debXzZpZu

— NBA New York Knicks (@nyknicks) February 8, 2014

Forward Carmelo Anthony paced the Knicks (20-30) with 31 points and forward Amar'e Stoudemire added 17 points.

 

The Knicks are 8-0 this season when they score at least 110 points. They matched a season high for steals with 16.

 

Denver (24-24) was led by guard Ty Lawson, who scored 24 points.

 

The sloppily played game featured a combined 44 turnovers and 44 fouls.

 

The Nuggets made just six shots from the field in the fourth quarter.

 

Shooting guard J.R. Smith scored eight points in a row on long jumpers to provide the Knicks with a 25-point lead, 102-77, with 7:09 left in the game.

 

The Knicks went on a tear to start the third quarter. Topped by Anthony's five points, the Knicks used a 12-4 burst to take a 62-48 advantage with 8:32 to go in the quarter. He scored 11 points in the third. New York displayed some crisp passing, collecting eight assists on 14 shots from the floor.

 

In the second quarter, Anthony snapped a 44-44 deadlock when he drained a 3-pointer with 1:35 to go. That was followed by a runner from guard Raymond Felton and one free throw by Smith for a 50-44 Knicks halftime lead.

 

Anthony poured in 20 points for the Knicks in the first half.

 

Denver took advantage of eight New York turnovers in the first quarter, scoring 14 points off the miscues. The Nuggets led 26-20 at the close of the first quarter behind forward Wilson Chandler's 10 points.

 

Anthony had 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting from the field in the opening quarter. - Reuters