NBA game roundup: Knicks end skid

NEW YORK — Halting their seven-game losing streak, the New York Knicks knocked off the Denver Nuggets 109-93 Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

Forward Carmelo Anthony and shooting guard J.R. Smith poured in 28 points for the Knicks, who reached the century mark for the second straight game. Smith made his first start of the season.

Denver placed five players in double figures, led by shooting guard Arron Affalo’s 18 points. Point guard Ty Lawson added 17 points, power forward Kenneth Faried scored 16, small forward Wilson Chandler had 11 and forward Darrell Arthur had 10 points off the bench.

The Nuggets lost for the seventh time in eight games.

Bucks 91, Heat 84

MIAMI — Milwaukee won for the third time in four games, dominating the second half and defeating slumping Miami. The Bucks outscored the Heat 53-38 after halftime.

Point guard Brandon Knight, a hometown star who played at Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest School, hit three huge 3-pointers in the final three minutes to lead Milwaukee. He finished with a game-high 20 points. Each of Knight’s 3-pointers came after the Heat closed the deficit to four or fewer points.

In addition to Knight, the Bucks got good work from rookie forward Jabari Parker, who had 13 points, six rebounds and two steals.

Rockets 69, Thunder 65

OKLAHOMA CITY — Guard James Harden scored 19 points, leading Houston to a victory over Oklahoma City.

The Rockets got the ball with 38 seconds left and leading by three. Harden attempted another long 3-pointer and missed. The Thunder corralled the rebound with 16 seconds to go.

Guard Jeremy Lamb inbounded the ball to guard Reggie Jackson at the top of the key. Jackson dribbled the ball a few times then took a contested 3-pointer that hit the back of the rim. Houston got the rebound and closed out the contest.