Nuggets close out trip in NYC

Denver is 1-3 on its five-game swing and has dropped two in a row, including Friday’s 119-114 loss to the Boston Celtics at TD Banknorth Garden. Carmelo Anthony posted 42 points on 15-of-26 shooting for the Nuggets, who have lost back-to-back contests for the first time since dropping their first three games of the season.

Earl Boykins scored 14 points and Marcus Camby added 11 for Denver, which is 6-5 on the road this season and four games off the lead in the Northwest Division.

The Knicks, meanwhile, have alternated wins and losses over their last seven games. On Friday New York suffered a 112-96 setback to the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.

Jamal Crawford had 29 points, five rebounds and four assists for the Knicks, who just went 3-3 on a six-game homestand. David Lee and Nate Robinson each had 12 points in the road loss, while leading scorer Eddy Curry had just 10 points.

New York is struggling without guard Steve Francis and forward Channing Frye, and just lost forward Quentin Richardson to back spasms. He is day-to-day.

The Knicks, who are 4-9 at MSG this season, will return home for four games against Denver, Utah, Charlotte and Chicago.

New York defeated the Nuggets on November 8 this season by a 109-107 score at the Pepsi Center, snapping a three-game skid in the series.

Denver, though, has won four of six and seven of the last 12 meetings. It has dropped four of the last six trips to the Big Apple.