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Anthony scores 32 in return, Nuggets beat Knicks

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-29 13:35

NEW YORK -- Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points after missing three games with a bruised right elbow to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 117-110 victory over the defenseless New York Knicks on Sunday.

The Nuggets blew the double-digit lead they seized by making 15 of 20 shots in the second quarter, but recovered behind Anthony's flawless fourth and sent the Knicks to their sixth straight loss.

J.R. Smith added 16 points and Chauncey Billups 14 for the Nuggets, who shot 57 percent from the field in the opener of a four-game road trip.

Nate Robinson scored 20 points and David Lee had 19 for the Knicks, who have yielded an average of 115.5 points during their skid. They came in allowing teams to shoot 48.3 percent, highest in the NBA.

It was only the third 30-point game this season for Anthony, who has been bothered by the elbow since he was originally hurt in a victory over Houston on November 30. Mavericks 98, Clippers 76=

At Los Angeles, Josh Howard had 29 points, nine rebounds and a career-best seven assists to lead Dallas over Los Angeles while Mavericks leading scorer Dirk Nowitzki served a one-game suspension.

The ban was announced by the NBA about 3 hours before the game. Nowitzki received a flagrant-2 foul and an automatic ejection in the fourth quarter of Friday night's 97-88 loss at Utah. He took a backward swing at Matt Harpring with a closed fist and hit him in the face, after he and the Jazz forward got tangled up under the basket.

Related readings:  Nuggets forward Anthony sidelined with elbow injury  Yao powers Rockets past Nuggets  Hornets sting Nuggets  Billups leads in-form Nuggets

The Clippers were in even worse shape. Zach Randolph, who bruised his left knee during last Monday's loss to Toronto, wasn't able to play, along with center Chris Kaman (left arch), reserve guard Ricky Davis (left knee) and rookie guard Mike Taylor (broken right thumb).

Marcus Camby returned to the Clippers' lineup after missing the previous game due to his father's death and had 16 points and 12 rebounds. Al Thornton also had 16 points.