Carmelo Anthony calls tonight's matchup with Nuggets a 'must-win'

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DENVER — Since the 2011 trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to New York, the nine-time All-Star has yet to win in Denver.

Anthony is 0-4 in the Mile High City since that trade and is calling tonight’s matchup a “must-win” for his Knicks who are losers of two-straight.

“It’s a big game for us — a must-win,’’ Anthony said at practice Thursday in Denver. “I know it’s early, but it’s a must-win mentality. We started off the road trip pretty good, had an opportunity to win in Phoenix — one we let slip away. [Thursday] — it was what it was. [Saturday] we have the opportunity to turn this into a good trip for us.”

Regular season game No. 27 | Denver Nuggets (10-16) vs Portland Trailblazers (14-12)

Pepsi Center, Denver, Colorado | 7:00 PM MST | TV: Altitude

Here’s what to watch for as the Knicks visit the Nuggets for the one and only time this season:

Revisiting the Anthony trade

It’s hard to ignore the haul the Nuggets received from New York when Anthony forced his way out Denver nearly six years ago.

The package was highlighted by Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, the two pieces that still remain in Denver, along with Raymond Felton and Timofey Mozgov who have since been traded for more picks.

The Nuggets also received a pick swap with the Knicks in 2014, which helped Denver net Gary Harris and Jusuf Nurkic, and another swap in 2016, which gifted the Nuggets Jamal Murray.

Overall, an impressive haul for Denver.

Since the 2011-2012 season, the first full year Anthony spent in New York, the Nuggets are a combined 204-216. The Knicks are 190-230.

A starting lineup to believe in

Michael Malone shook things up against Portland Thursday night when he started Emmanuel Mudiay, Gary Harris, Gallinari, Chandler, and Nikola Jokic.

The new starting lineup finished with a +2 plus-minus but helped get Denver out to a 38-28 first-quarter advantage which they rode to a 132-120 victory.

That starting five, which will likely get the nod again tonight versus the Knicks, is an offensive juggernaut but could be exploited defensively, especially against New York’s frontcourt that features Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis.

Chandler and Gallinari will likely draw Porzingis from the tip, if the Nuggets stick with the same starting five, and will be tasked with limiting the second-year big man who’s averaging roughly 17 points and nine rebounds in December, slightly down from his November numbers.

Darrell Arthur, who drew a DNP-CD against Portland could see time on both Anthony and Porzingis as well.

Porzingis is coming off a rough performance against Golden State where he scored just eight points in 35 minutes.