Knicks 109, Nuggets 93: Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting as host New York beat Denver to snap its seven-game slide.

J.R. Smith also poured in 28 points in his first start of the season for the Knicks, who shot 53.9 percent from the floor. Anthony added a team-high nine rebounds for New York, which finished 21-of-27 from the free-throw line.

Arron Afflalo scored 18 points for the Nuggets, who managed just eight points in the second quarter. Ty Lawson contributed 17 points and nine assists while Kenneth Faried tallied 16 points and nine rebounds for Denver.

Anthony scored seven straight points to put the Knicks on top 56-37 and he led the way with 17 points as New York shot 61.9 percent from the field in the first half. The Knicks held Denver to just one field goal in the second quarter to take a commanding 23-point lead into intermission.

New York led by as much as 25 in the third quarter following another smooth jumper by Anthony before the Nuggets later used a 12-2 run to pull within 86-74. Nate Robinson converted a three-point play to cut the deficit to nine early in the fourth quarter, but Anthony banked in a 3-pointer to push the margin back to 99-82 and the Knicks were not troubled the rest of the way.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Knicks have won five of the last six matchups with the Nuggets at Madison Square Garden. … New York SG Iman Shumpert missed the game with a right hip contusion. … Denver went 1-of-16 from the floor in the second quarter.