Allan Houston had 27 points and Latrell Sprewell added 16 as the Knicks overcame a poor-shooting third quarter to beat the Denver Nuggets 83-75 Wednesday night.

New York ended a three-game losing streak to remain 3½ games behind Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with seven games left. The Bucks beat Houston 106-99 earlier Wednesday.

"We hadn't been playing well as a team for four quarters and we did a much better job tonight," Sprewell said.

New York trailed by six after shooting just 3-for-15 in the third quarter, but opened the fourth with an 8-0 run, capped by Shandon Anderson's dunk on an inbounds play.

The Knicks went up 70-65 on a three-point play by Travis Knight with 5:21 left, then pushed the lead to eight on a free throw by Charlie Ward with 3:45 left.

The Knicks were 9-for-14 in the fourth period after shooting just 35 percent the first three quarters.

"We weren't making shots in the third and once they started to fall, we were able to get that little bit of a cushion," Sprewell said.

Knight was the key. After playing just 24 games this season, Knight was active inside on defense and hit some key shots in what was easily his best game of the season.

Knight was 3-for-3 from the field and scored eight of his 10 points in the fourth quarter. He also had five rebounds after averaging less than a point and 1.2 rebounds per game.

"Travis stepped up bigtime," Knicks coach Don Chaney said. "I'm surprised in that he was able to contribute as long as he did. If he plays the way he did in this game, you have to look at him."

The Nuggets set a team record by shooting just 26 percent in a 95-65 loss to Phoenix on Tuesday night, but didn't show any lingering effects.

Denver hit four of its first seven shots to open an 8-2 lead and shot 46 percent in the first three quarters.

It didn't last.

The Nuggets took a 62-56 lead into the fourth period, but didn't make a field goal until Juwan Howard hit a jumper from the top of the key with 7:56 left. Denver was 5-for-19 in the final quarter of its fourth game in five nights.

"I think we are a tired basketball team right now, mentally and physically," Nuggets coach Jeff Bzdelik said. "It's not an excuse. It is just that we are."

Nuggets center Marcus Camby didn't take long to have an impact against his former team.

Camby entered the game with five minutes left in the first quarter and immediately hit Vincent Yarbrough along the baseline for a dunk after grabbing an offensive rebound. He followed with an emphatic block on Kurt Thomas, then hit a turnaround and a long jumper on consecutive possessions.

"Marcus was very good tonight. He was very excited about playing his old team," said Howard, who led Denver with 20 points and 14 rebounds. "Usually when a guy is playing against his old team, they always come to play and they play well."

And Camby didn't hesitate to let his former teammates know about it each time he did something.

He talked to Thomas as he backed down the floor after a long jumper late in the second quarter, then shot his finger like a gun at New York's bench after a dunk midway through the third period.

Camby also had a few words for Sprewell after a long jumper over his close friend late in the third quarter, and jawed with Thomas in the final two minutes.

He finished with 15 points on 7-of-8 shooting and six rebounds, but downplayed the matchup with his former team.

"It was just another game," said Camby, who came to Denver with Mark Jackson and the rights to Nene Hilario in a draft-day deal that sent Antonio McDyess to New York. "It was just like being in practice last year."

McDyess has not played this season due to a broken left kneecap.

Houston and Sprewell helped the Knicks to a three-point lead at halftime, combining for 28 of New York's 43 points. Houston was 7-for-14 for 16 points, while Sprewell was 4-for-6 for 12 points.

Game Notes
Actress Halle Berry and new Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer attended the game. ... New York F-C Othella Harrington did not play due to a sore right foot. ... The Nuggets activated Yarbrough before the game and signed G Jeff Trepagnier to a second 10-day contract. G Adam Harrington was signed for the rest of the season, but he was placed on the injured list with a left knee contusion. ... Houston has scored at least 19 points in 11 straight games.