(Denver-CO) The Nuggets are still perfect at home largely in part to Carmelo Anthony scoring a career-high 50 points on the Knicks as Denver pulled out a, 128-125, to improve to 12-4 overall.

In the first twelve minutes of last night’s action the Knicks came out firing three-pointers (as we knew they would) to hit the Nuggets with a 30-point quarter. New York was 6-9 from the land of plenty in the first, but in my assessment their early hot shooting wasn’t why the Nuggets were trailing by four entering the second quarter. Rather, it was the Nuggets weakest component overall, defensive rebounding, that gave the Knicks their early lead. New York pulled six offensive rebounds in the first quarter and the extra possessions off of those boards were the difference on the scoreboard when you consider the Knicks were shooting just 44% overall from the field.

At this point, Carmelo had quietly scored eleven points on 4-7 shooting and was 3-4 from the free-throw line.

The Knicks’ were 0-5 from the land of plenty in the second quarter, but still managed to score 30 points again in the period. And to my great pleasure, Denver held New York to just two offensive rebounds in the second quarter. However,  the Nuggets weren’t forcing much action defensively as Denver forced just four turnovers in the half of which translated into a mere three points.

As for ‘Melo…

His eleven points in the first quarter were just a warm up for another offensive display. Anthony scored another 13 points in the second in his typical effortless fashion with a myriad of quiet, spaced out offensive output. He started the quarter with a three before hitting a jumper a few minutes later. ‘Melo then took a great pass from Nene and put a lay-up to bed midway through the quarter as a another couple of minutes passed before slamming home a great feed from Chauncey Billups. Carmelo then hit 16-foot rainbow proceeding slamming another great pass from Nene through the iron as the Nuggets scored 35 points in the second quarter and took a one-point lead into halftime, 61-60.

In a tightly contested third quarter, Denver stayed one step ahead of New York after the Knicks took an early three-point lead two minutes into the second half. Chauncey Billups, after scoring 16 points in the first half, afforded the Nuggets a seven-point lead after back-to-back three’s bookended a New York timeout.

Then back came the ‘Melo man…

Carmelo had only scored two points in the first five minutes of the third period, but finished with 13 of the Nuggets’ final 18 points of the quarter to enter  the fourth with 39 points.

It’s at this point that it needs to be pointed out how badly the Nugget bench was outscored. The Knicks, led by Al Harrington’s 28 points through three, were outscoring the Nuggets’ reserves 38-9 after three quarters. In fact, you might be surprised to know that no player off of George Karl’s bench had scored since early in the second quarter when Chris Andersen, J.R. Smith, and Ty Lawson scored six consecutive points.

The Nuggets took a, 92-87, lead into the fourth and Carmelo Anthony’s hoop and the harm to open the quarter gave Denver its biggest lead of the game, 95-87. Denver then went cold, tallying only three points from the Birdman over for the next 2:45, as the Knicks stormed back to take the lead, 101-100, after back-to-back three’s by Nate Robinson and Chris Duhon paved the way for an 11-2 run.

The Nuggets then desperately got the boost they needed from off their bench. The baller formerly known as Earl gave Denver back the lead with a long jumper, 102-101, and proceeded to hit three, three’s woven around another four made free-throws by Carmelo to put the Nuggets up by four, 115-111, with under three minutes to play in regulation.

Without J.R.’s cold-blooded shooting, I’m not so sure a special night by Carmelo isn't spoiled by the relentless Knicks. New York, and specifically Al Harrington, deserve a lot of credit for not just laying down and allowing Carmelo and company to have a party on their home floor. Harrington scored nine of the last 14 points for the Knicks, but they weren’t enough to overcome Chauncey Billups’ heady decision making and Carmelo’s first “MVP” chants as the Nuggets salted away a, 128-125, win. Mr. Big Shot’s final eight of his 32 points came in the final two and half minutes and Carmelo stepped to the free-throw line for four more attempts with the Pepsi Center faithful chanting him to new career-high of 50 points!

Along with Chauncey’s near silent 32 points, Nene played fantastic finishing with a well-rounded line of nine points, eleven rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and a steal. Fellow starter, Kenyon Martin, added eleven rebounds, eight points, three blocks, three steals, and an assist before fouling out.

J.R. Smith’s 12 points in the fourth quarter were clutch and left him with 17 points overall, but Al Harrington’s 41 off Mike D’Antoni’s bench weren’t enough to counteract the 82-point collaboration of Carmelo and Chauncey.

Up next for the Nuggets is a second look at the Minnesota Timberwolves, who they disposed of easily, 124-111, the night before Thanksgiving, tomorrow night.

Go Nuggets!

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