DENVER – Kenyon Martin scored a season-high 27 points, Carmelo Anthony added 19, and the Denver Nuggets beat the free-falling Knicks 96-76 last night for their third straight victory under new coach George Karl.

Martin shot 11-of-17 from the floor to help Karl win his home debut in Denver.

Jamal Crawford scored 20 points to lead the Knicks, who have lost 14 of 16. Their last lead came late in the first quarter when Stephon Marbury’s short jumper put the Knicks up 21-20. That was quickly erased when Denver went on a 5-0 run to end the quarter.

Denver’s lead reached 42-31 with 5:23 left in the second quarter after Earl Boykins scored off a Knicks turnover. Martin’s two dunks offset two 3-pointers by Crawford, and Denver took a 57-45 lead into halftime.

The Knicks scored only 12 points in the third quarter, and Denver increased its lead to 75-57 after three.

The Knicks, 4-for-17 in the period, didn’t have a field goal until Penny Hardaway and Marbury hit consecutive shots nearly six minutes in. Anthony’s rebound basket with 6:27 left made it 67-48. Martin scored eight of Denver’s last 10 points in the quarter.

Marbury was 4-for-12 from the floor for 12 points.