Nuggets 110, Knicks 94

[March 09, 2016]  By Michael Kelly, The Sports Xchange
 
 DENVER -- Kenneth Faried had 24 points and 10 rebounds, and the Nuggets denied Carmelo Anthony another win in Denver with a 110-94 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

Nikola Jokic had 20 points and nine rebounds, and Gary Harris scored 16 for the Nuggets, who swept the season series for the first time in seven years.

The Nuggets had six players score in double figures and tied a season low with six turnovers. Faried recorded his sixth double-double in the past seven games.

Anthony had 30 points and seven rebounds, but he remains winless in the Mile High City since he was traded to New York in a 13-player deal on Feb. 22, 2011. The closest he came was when he had 27 points and seven rebounds in a 97-95 loss on Nov. 29, 2013.

The fans were mostly unforgiving to Anthony, who helped orchestrate his departure from Denver five years ago. He received a smattering of boos when he was introduced and whenever he touched the ball.

The reception didn't bother the 13-year veteran. He was 9-for-18 from the field and hit all 11 of his free throws.

New York's Derrick Williams had 15 points, but rookie Kristaps Porzingis was held to six points in 20 minutes. Porzingis missed the Knicks' win over Detroit on Saturday due to a lower left leg contusion.

Denver (26-38) used a 16-0 run near the end of the second quarter to take control. Harris hit two 3-pointers and the Nuggets scored 10 of their 58 points in the paint in that stretch to go up 56-41 with 2:26 left in the half.

The Nuggets led 60-49 at the break.

New York's 7-0 run in the first 1:30 of the third made it a four-point game, but Denver quickly got the lead back to double digits. Faried scored seven points and Emmanuel Mudiay hit a 3-pointer to make it 74-61.

New York (26-39) cut the deficit to eight on a layup by Anthony with 4:16 left, but D.J. Augustin's layup and three-point play pushed the lead to 100-87.

NOTES: Knicks F Lance Thomas was helped off the practice court before the game and didn't play because of a sore left knee. Thomas planted wrong during a pregame workout. ... Nuggets coach Michael Malone said F Danilo Gallinari (torn ligaments in right ankle) is ahead of schedule in his recovery but is not close to returning. "Being ahead of schedule, I can't even tell you what that means," Malone said. "Maybe instead of being three weeks out he's two." ... Knicks president Phil Jackson is traveling with the team on its six-game road trip. ... Video of Malone playing defense along with his team on the sidelines at the end of regulation against Dallas on Sunday is drawing attention on the internet. "My daughters told me I've gone viral, and that's one thing I've never wanted to be is viral so I'm not very happy about that," he said.

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