The Knicks succeeded at not losing for once

The New York Knickerbockers basketball team -- losers of seven straight -- did whatever the opposite of losing is this afternoon against the Denver Nuggets.

Neither of these teams are particularly good, and this contest turned into the kind of roller-coaster ride you'd expect from two squads unable to put together four quarters of solid basketball. New York gave the Nuggets free rein beyond the three-point arc in the first quarter, and the Denver shooters rained fire to the tune of 35 early points. The Knicks' defense stiffened in the second, and the Nuggets went absurdly cold from the floor. Ty Lawson's layup at the halftime buzzer was the team's first made field goal of the period, as Denver was held to eight points.

Of course, the Knicks let the Nuggets back into the game in the third, giving up 35 points. That's right, kids -- 31 points in the first, eight points in the second 35 in the third. Thankfully they got it together in the fourth, turning what would have been a season-crushing choke job into a fairly comfortable double-digit win.

The afternoon belonged to Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith, who dominated their former club with 28 points apiece. I like this version of J.R., and I hope he sticks around for awhile.

MMiranda will be recappin' with a vengeance later this afternoon. Until then, feel free to take a nap.