......For now, the talk has quieted while Denver has gotten off to an uneven start. After recording consecutive wins, the Nuggets (5-5) have dropped three of four, with all of those losses coming on the road, including Monday’s 100-94 defeat to Phoenix.

Denver led by as much as 15 in the first half and eight early in the fourth quarter, but was outscored 27-13 over the final 10 minutes. Anthony was a bright spot in the defeat with 20 points and a career-high 22 rebounds, his second straight double-double.

“This is a game we should have won and we let it slip by us,” forward-center Al Harrington(notes) said. “We’ve got to get better closing out games.”

In his previous home game Thursday, Anthony had 32 points and 13 rebounds to help the Nuggets knock off the previously unbeaten Los Angeles Lakers 118-112. He’s averaging 26.3 points and 10 rebounds at home this season while helping Denver win three of four there.

The last time he faced New York at the Pepsi Center, he scored a career-best 50 points in a 128-125 victory, while Harrington led the Knicks with 41 off the bench.

Anthony is averaging 33.4 points on 55.1 percent shooting in his last nine games against the Knicks (3-7) and 35.0 in the last four home matchups.

New York will try to hold Anthony at bay while avoiding its fourth consecutive loss in Denver, but enters this game having given up an average of 110.2 points during its skid, its longest since dropping eight straight from Feb. 5-23.

The Knicks trailed by single digits for much of Sunday’s home game against Houston until missing their first eight shots in the fourth quarter of a 104-96 loss.

Stoudemire had 25 points but scored only three during the final period while his team was loudly booed.

“Obviously nobody wants to lose and everybody is pressing,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “The reality is we’re 3-7 and we’ve got a game on Tuesday. So you just try to figure out what’s going wrong, how can you get a little bit better.”

In the opener of a four-game Western road trip, D’Antoni’s team will try to win for the third time in 11 games in Denver.

The Knicks, though, won the previous matchup at Madison Square Garden on March 23 as Danilo Gallinari(notes) scored 28 points. Anthony had 36 in the 109-104 loss, which snapped a four-game win streak over New York.

this could be a big momentum-swinging, confidence-gaining victory. or, it could be another disheartening loss.

I stopped doing game picker because I hated to be right in my pick to get points on a loss!!!!

I will watch tonite and root for them to turn it around!!!!!

Gallo goes for 28 pts tonite!

Best thing is for the team to go hard and beat Melo and Nuggs!!!

Noting ever bad happens when you earn respect!

Best scenario is Melo comes as a free agent because he wants to play with AR and Gallo! Not because they are trading chips!

2010-Amare
2011-Melo
2012-CP3

A starphuchers dream!!!!

oohah wrote:They key to winning tonight's game is for the Knicks to shoot over 50% from three-point range, while taking approximately 30 three-point shots.

And to hope that the other team shoots terribly.

oohah

Our issues have centered around being a 3-point shooting team who can't shoot. So your logic is partly right. As of right now, this team needs PGs to start controlling the game and the offense and shooters to make shots. If those things can't happen in the next 5-7 games, it is time to shop for a new PG and time to look to add a real shooter. Gallo is inconsistent but at the end of the day is a great shooter. Who else on this team can step up to being above average?

oohah wrote:^^ Gallinari has a lot of shooting ability but asking him to gun three pointers is improper use of his talents. Run him off of screens, get him shots in the 15-18 foot range and he will be a lot better. And how about a postup or two? The 3-pointer should be a great weapon for him, but right now D'Antoni has made it the core of his game.

oohah

from your lips . . . .

we've been saying this for 2+ years now, haven't we?

IamRa wrote:I smell 3 game winning streak coming.

I feel really good about this game.

well you may be ra but you also may need to be going to get your sense of smell checked.