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Nuggets face Anthony, Knicks at MSG

Jan 21, 2012 - 4:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Denver Nuggets have eclipsed the 100-point barrier in each of their last five wins. They will try to keep firing on all cylinders tonight against former star Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks in the continuation of a five-game road trip.

Anthony spent seven-plus seasons in the Rocky Mountains before being dealt to the Knicks last February. He was selected by Denver with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2003 draft and his former team hasn't missed a beat without him. Team play and solid defense have kept the Nuggets competitive without Anthony, who led the franchise to the playoffs seven times.

The Nuggets have won the first three portions of this current road trip and nine of 12 games overall, including Friday's 108-104 victory at Washington. Al Harrington had 29 points and seven rebounds for the Nuggets, who got 21 points apiece from Ty Lawson and Danilo Gallinari and improved to 5-3 away from home. Gallinari was involved in the Anthony deal and is averaging 16.2 ppg.

"We've got to keep it rolling," Lawson said. "We have one more in New York."

Denver actually has another game at Sacramento before it can return to the Rocky Mountains, and made 49.4 percent of its shots last night. Harrington buried 5-of-8 from three-point range, as the Nuggets made 10-of-21 shots from beyond the arc. Harrington also has scored 15-plus points in nine of his first 15 games this year.

Nuggets veteran guard Andre Miller, who erupted for 28 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes off the bench in an overtime win at Philadelphia on Wednesday, had four rebounds and five assists. He missed all four of his shots from the floor and never went to the foul line.

The Nuggets are second in the Northwest standings behind Oklahoma City and 6-0 against Eastern Conference opponents this season. Last season Denver went 20-10 against Eastern Conference foes, including 14-1 at home. Nuggets center Nene (heel) did not play against the Wizards and is questionable tonight.

Anthony and the Knicks are mired in a season-high five-game losing streak since ripping off four straight wins, and will wrap up a four-game homestand at Madison Square Garden this evening.

The Knicks' woes continued with Friday's 100-86 loss to Milwaukee, which had been 0-8 on the road. Anthony shook off a balky wrist and ended with 35 points and five rebounds, while Amare Stoudemire registered 15 points and 11 boards. New York turned the ball over 25 times, leading to 18 Milwaukee points.

"Right now we have to stay together," Stoudemire said. "We have to stay together as a team and work things out."

New York is still second in the Atlantic Division and will begin a four-game road trip Tuesday at Charlotte. It is just 3-5 at MSG this season.

This will be the lone meeting between the Knicks and Nuggets this season after splitting the last two home-and-home series. Stoudemire averaged 27.0 points and 7.0 rebounds in his two meetings against the Nuggets last season. The Nuggets have dropped six of nine visits at historic MSG.