NEW YORK — The Nuggets are surely looking forward to getting back to Denver, where they accidentally left behind their defense.
In a rare day game, Denver lost at New York, 129-125, in slugfest scorefest — the Knicks (16-9) shot 52.3 percent from the field. The Nuggets (14-9) finished 1-3 on this road trip, and in their only win, they allowed 116 points in at Toronto.
Denver’s Chauncey Billups, who has struggled with his shot for much of the season, had just one of Denver’s first 117 points, but Billups finally hit a big shot — a 3-pointer with 1:18 left, tying the game at 120. But from that point, the Knicks pulled away, thanks, in part, to an offensive foul by Carmelo Anthony.
The lingering storyline was, of course, the possible trade of Anthony to these Knicks. When Melo was announced in pregame introductions, the fans cheered loudly. And the first few times Melo received a pass, the fans cheered again, showing their appreciation for the Brooklyn-born superstar who has privately expressed interest to return to the New York area.
Before the game, Nuggets exec Masai Ujiri said of his attachment to Melo: “I have a special relationship with the kid. It’s been a joy. In your mind, you wish it was different, but the situation is what it is. I understand the situation. Yes, I love (Melo) to death and sometimes you wish it was different. But I have to do my job.”
Denver has until Feb. 24 to trade Anthony, or else Melo will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Melo returned from a two-game hiatus (knee tendonitis) to play in Denver’s lone game at Madison Square Garden this season (the Nuggets play their only game at New Jersey, another possible trade destination, on Jan. 31). Melo scored 31 points and grabbed 13 rebounds too. Denver’s Nene scored 26 for the second-straight game.
Benjamin Hochman: 303-954-1294 or bhochman@denverpost.com
