Knicks end seven-game skid with 109-93 win over Nuggets

The New York Knicks held the Denver Nuggets to one basket in the second quarter and went on to break their seven-game losing streak with a 109-93 win over the Denver Nuggets on Sunday.

With the game tied at 31 entering the period, the Knicks outscored the Nuggets, 31-8, giving up just Ty Lawson’s layup at the buzzer as the lone field goal scored by Denver in that quarter. The Nuggets missed their first 14 shots in that period.

Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith each scored 28 points to lead New York.

Aaron Afflalo had 18 points and Lawson added 17 points and nine assists for the Nuggets, who’ve lost seven of their last eight games. Kenneth Faried chipped in 16 points.

Samuel Dalembert had eight points and eight rebounds for New York, which last won on Nov. 2 against Charlotte.

Trailing by as many as 25 points after Anthony’s shot made it 79-54 for the Knicks with 5:36 left in the quarter, Denver went on a 25-10 run, capped by Nate Robinson’s three-point play that made it 89-80 with 8:55 left in the final quarter.

But New York pulled away for good with a 13-3 spurt of its own. Amar’e Stoudemire’s three-point play made it 92-80. After a free thrown by Denver’s Alonzo Gee, Smith scored four straight points and Anthony hit a three-pointer that extended New York’s lead, 99-82 with 5:50 remaining. Lawson then added a free throw before Smith answered with a shot beyond the arc that made it 102-83 with 3:58 left.

Houston 69, Oklahoma City 65: James Harden scored 19 points, and the Rockets beat the Thunder for their third consecutive victory. Dwight Howard had 12 points and nine rebounds for Houston, and Patrick Beverley added 12 points and eight boards. Both teams shot below 30% from the field.

Milwaukee 91, at Miami 84: Brandon Knight made three three-pointers down the stretch and scored 20 points, Jabari Parker scored 13 and the Bucks downed the slumping Heat. Larry Sanders, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zaza Pachulia each scored 11 for Milwaukee, which started 5-21 last season.