Carmelo Anthony will cut his trip short and return to New York to have his balky right knee examined.

The New York Knicks forward score nine points before leaving in the third quarter of a 117-94 loss to Denver on Wednesday night in his first game back in town since being traded two years ago.

Anthony said his knee started "tightening up" and that he felt like he didn't "have no pop, no power."

He will have the knee drained, but has no timetable for a return. The Knicks play in Portland on Thursday.

Anthony said, "there comes a point where you've got to figure it out and get to the bottom of it and move on."

His nagging knee recently caused him to sit for three games.