Initially, Bill Walker fueled the Knicks to a 39-28 lead early in the second quarter, connecting on three 3-pointers and a one-hand dunk in less than the first four minutes of the period. That was the kind of points separation the Knicks had for most of the game, until Nuggets sixth man Al Harrington scored 15 points in the fourth quarter and made it a two-point game. Melo had his moments at the end of the fourth quarter, and in the first and second overtimes, but the Nuggets played better team basketball to come away with the victory. In fact, Denver's entire starting five scored in double figures.
Amare Stoudemire didn't score from 9:02 left in the first quarter until 8:40 remaining in the third. While Stoudemire had 11 rebounds tonight, he had one of his lowest point totals of the season (12 points). Give credit to the Nuggets' bigs Nene and Mozgov for defending him well, but STAT has to learn how to mix up his moves a little bit going to the basket. Unfortunately, that's never really been his forte. Also, he has to control his handle better driving through the lane. He had four turnovers tonight. On defense, he just has to care and be more aware sometimes. A few times Nene or Mozgov beat him down the court for the fastbreak jam, or from the backside in halfcourt sets. That's also on Tyson Chandler. They have to work together better to protect the paint.
Anthony lost the ball out of bounds with 0.3 seconds left, and the Knicks dodged a bullet when Miller's lob pass to an unguarded Corey Brewer hit the rim and bounced away, setting up another OT.
The Knicks led for the final time at 111-110 on Anthony's jumper with 1:38 to play, but Gallinari made two free throws and Harrington hit a three-pointer from the corner to make it 115-111 with 46 seconds to go.
Nene had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who played without starting guard Arron Afflalo because of a groin injury. Miller started for him and had 14 points and 12 assists as Denver won its fourth in a row and improved to 7-0 against the Eastern Conference.
Anthony has been bothered by a sore left wrist for more than week, perhaps contributing to his awful shooting in that stretch. He was frustrated enough to get ejected from Friday's loss to Milwaukee, and he was booed in the second half of this one as jumpers kept clanging off the rim. He said afterward he would talk to the team doctors and decide if he needs to rest.
Besides Gallinari, the Knicks' lottery pick in 2008, the Nuggets also got Timofey Mozgov, Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler, who all were among the Knicks' top six players. That's a lot to give up even for a potent scorer like Anthony — too much, many Knicks fans thought, and there were reports former team president Donnie Walsh did, too, but he was overruled by Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan.
The lack of depth has been crippling this season, where the Knicks have no reliable scorer beyond Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. The Nuggets, meanwhile, thrive because of their balance, with a number of players capable of leading them in scoring.
And though Denver general manager Masai Ujiri said after the deal that the Nuggets "got killed," they've been much better since the deal. Denver is 30-12 in the regular season since the trade, while New York fell to just 20-24.
Amare Stoudemire didn't score from 9:02 left in the first quarter until 8:40 remaining in the third. While Stoudemire had 11 rebounds tonight, he had one of his lowest point totals of the season (12 points). Give credit to the Nuggets' bigs Nene and Mozgov for defending him well, but STAT has to learn how to mix up his moves a little bit going to the basket. Unfortunately, that's never really been his forte. Also, he has to control his handle better driving through the lane. He had four turnovers tonight. On defense, he just has to care and be more aware sometimes. A few times Nene or Mozgov beat him down the court for the fastbreak jam, or from the backside in halfcourt sets. That's also on Tyson Chandler. They have to work together better to protect the paint.
Anthony lost the ball out of bounds with 0.3 seconds left, and the Knicks dodged a bullet when Miller's lob pass to an unguarded Corey Brewer hit the rim and bounced away, setting up another OT.
The Knicks led for the final time at 111-110 on Anthony's jumper with 1:38 to play, but Gallinari made two free throws and Harrington hit a three-pointer from the corner to make it 115-111 with 46 seconds to go.
Nene had 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Nuggets, who played without starting guard Arron Afflalo because of a groin injury. Miller started for him and had 14 points and 12 assists as Denver won its fourth in a row and improved to 7-0 against the Eastern Conference.
Anthony has been bothered by a sore left wrist for more than week, perhaps contributing to his awful shooting in that stretch. He was frustrated enough to get ejected from Friday's loss to Milwaukee, and he was booed in the second half of this one as jumpers kept clanging off the rim. He said afterward he would talk to the team doctors and decide if he needs to rest.
Besides Gallinari, the Knicks' lottery pick in 2008, the Nuggets also got Timofey Mozgov, Raymond Felton and Wilson Chandler, who all were among the Knicks' top six players. That's a lot to give up even for a potent scorer like Anthony — too much, many Knicks fans thought, and there were reports former team president Donnie Walsh did, too, but he was overruled by Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan.
The lack of depth has been crippling this season, where the Knicks have no reliable scorer beyond Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. The Nuggets, meanwhile, thrive because of their balance, with a number of players capable of leading them in scoring.
And though Denver general manager Masai Ujiri said after the deal that the Nuggets "got killed," they've been much better since the deal. Denver is 30-12 in the regular season since the trade, while New York fell to just 20-24.
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