Nuggets 101, Knicks 96
NEW YORK -- Forward Danilo Gallinari and guard Will Barton scored 19 points apiece to provide the Denver Nuggets with a 101-96 win over the New York Knicks on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.
Barton added 11 rebounds for the Nuggets (21-31) and rookie guard Emmanuel Mudiay scored 15 points, including nine key points in the fourth quarter.
Knicks forwards Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis poured in 21 points each in New York's season-high five straight loss. The Knicks (23-31) have dropped nine of their last 10 games.
A Porzingis layup with 42 seconds left in the game drew New York to 97-94, but Anthony's attempt to tie it with a 3-pointer from the right elbow failed. Barton then sank four straight free throws in the last seven seconds to seal the win.
Mudiay tied it at 88-88 with a 20-foot jumper and then scored seven of the Nuggets' next nine points for a 97-90 lead with 2:43 to play.
The Knicks trailed by as many as 11 points early in the third quarter, but Porzingis deposited 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the frame to bring the Knicks back to a 79-77 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
New York fell behind by as many as 19 points late in the end of the second quarter.
Anthony picked up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter with the Knicks trailing 66-59, but Porzingis ignited an 12-2 run with a mid-range jumper to give his team a 71-68 lead. Porzingis scored six points in the run.
Barton contributed 10 points, three rebounds and three assists in the second quarter as the Nuggets built a 60-49 halftime edge.
Denver used an 11-2 run to boost its lead to 51-33 with 4:39 to play in the second quarter.
Forward Kenneth Faried (14 points) scored 10 points to help Denver to a 31-20 first-quarter lead.
Anthony and Porzingis were a combined 0-for-10 from the floor in the first quarter as the Knicks made just 8 of their 24 shots.
NOTES: Nuggets F Danilo Gallinari has shot 89.3 percent from the line while leading the NBA in free throws made and attempted since Jan. 6. ... F Darrell Arthur (left quad soreness), F Wilson Chandler (right hip surgery) and G Jameer Nelson (sprained left wrist) were out for Denver. ... Knicks F Lance Thomas was out with a concussion. ... Sunday was the start of a four-game road trip for the Nuggets. ... Knicks F Carmelo Anthony is shooting a career-low 42.4 percentage from the floor,