Knicks 112, Nuggets 106: Carmelo Anthony returned from a two-game absence to score 34 points against his former squad as New York defeated visiting Denver.

Anthony missed the previous two games with a finger injury but scored 11 final-quarter points to help the Knicks improve to 8-0 at home. Jason Kidd scored a season-best 17 points, Tyson Chandler added 15 and 12 rebounds and J.R. Smith chipped in with 15 points and nine boards.

Ty Lawson scored 23 points, Danilo Gallinari added 21 and Andre Iguodala and Corey Brewer each scored 15 for the Nuggets, who let an eight-point fourth-quarter lead slip away while committing 16 turnovers.

New York trailed 88-80 with 11 minutes to play before Steve Novak drained back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 17-2 run. Anthony culminated the spurt with a 3-pointer to give the Knicks a seven-point lead with 6:16 remaining.

Anthony had 17 first-half points to help New York to a 61-58 advantage. Denver trailed despite shooting 59 percent from the field as the Knicks were 20-of-27 from the free-throw line in the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The 30-point outing was the sixth of the season for Anthony. … Denver shot 55.6 percent from the field to New York’s 43 but the Knicks had a 12-5 edge in 3-point baskets. … Chandler has recorded double-doubles in six of the last eight games.