"Forty years ago today, the 1969-70 Knicks won their then NBA record 18th straight game to move their record to 23-1.

The only streak the current-era Knicks do now are moral victories. And they posted a doozy last night in going toe-to-toe with the powerhouse Nuggets to the final buzzer in a Wild West shootout, losing 128-125 amidst a controversial ending at Pepsi Center.

Though Al Harrington had a monster night with 41 points in 38 minutes, the Knicks were unable to withstand Carmelo Anthony's barrage. Anthony, a free agent in 2011 when the Knicks could still have cap space, struck for a career-high 50 points.

The Knicks fell to 3-13, losing their fourth straight and concluding a Western swing at 0-3.

It appeared Anthony had iced the game with two free throws with 17 seconds left to give him 50 and put the Nuggets up 4. But the Knicks kept coming. Harrington scored on a finger roll before J.R. Smith hit 1 of 2 free throws, putting the Knicks down 3 with 4.4 seconds left.

Inbounding from the backcourt, Larry Hughes finally got it deep on the right wing and had it stripped by Chauncey Billups as he went to launch a 3-pointer. Nevertheless, Hughes claimed the referee raised his hand to signal for a foul. After much confusion, the referees reviewed the play and ruled instead Hughes was out of bounds.

The Knicks' coaching staff was hot afterward and Hughes mystified. Coach Mike D'Antoni said he thought a foul occurred before the buzzer."