Anthony has 31, Knicks beat Hawks for 4th straight home win
NEW YORK ( AP) — Carmelo Anthony matched his season high with 31 points and the New York Knicks beat the Atlanta Hawks 10494 on Sunday for their fourth straight home victory.
Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who led most of the way against one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.
Dwight Howard had 18 points and 18 rebounds, but point guard Dennis Schroder missed all eight shots as the Hawks dropped their second straight following a sixgame winning streak.
Howard bounced back nicely after he was ejected for a flagrant foul Friday in the Hawks' 100-96 loss in Charlotte, while Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 19 points and Kyle Korver scored 17.
The Knicks played without starting center Joakim Noah because of illness.
Guards Derrick Rose and Courtney Lee both scored 14 points and Kyle O'Quinn, who replaced Noah, had eight points and eight rebounds.
The Knicks led by two with 7½ minutes left in the third quarter before Anthony's jumper started them on a 12-0 burst. Willy Hernangomez's three-point play extended New York's lead to 65-51.
Atlanta never made a serious dent in the lead, as the Knicks repeatedly hit 3-pointers every time it seemed the Hawks were building momentum.
Anthony banked in a long jumper from the right side to end the first quarter, giving the Knicks a 24-20 lead that they expanded to 46-41 at halftime.