Knicks 101, Bobcats 91
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Forward Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points and center Andrea Bargnani added 25 as the New York Knicks beat the Charlotte Bobcats 101-91 on Friday night.
The Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak and in the process got revenge for a 102-97 loss to the Bobcats in New York on Tuesday.
The New York victory came on the same day that Bobcats coach Steve Clifford underwent a procedure to have two stents placed into his heart. Clifford complained of chest pains on Thursday night and was admitted to a Charlotte hospital, then had the procedure done on Friday afternoon. He was to remain in the hospital Friday night and there is no timetable for his return.
Former Knicks great and Bobcats assistant Patrick Ewing assumed the role of acting coach in Clifford's absence.
The Knicks led 51-47 at halftime, then broke the game open with a 15-0 spurt early in the third quarter. They went on to lead by 19 in the quarter and led 85-69 after three quarters. The Bobcats never got closer than 10 in the final minute.
The Knicks, 2-3, also got 15 points from guard Raymond Felton.
Anthony also had eight rebounds and six assists. He was 12 of 22 from the field. Bargnani was 11 of 25 from the field.
Charlotte, 3-3, was led by guard Kemba Walker with 25 points. Guard Gerald Henderson scored 18, guard Ramon Sessions 15 and forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist 14.
NOTES: Bobcats interim coach Patrick Ewing admitted before the game that he was "nervous" filling in for Steve Clifford, and that it was "ironic" his first game came against his longtime team, the Knicks. Ewing played for the Knicks from 1985-2000. ... The Bobcats had won five straight home games over the past two seasons heading into Friday's game. They beat Toronto at home on Wednesday night 92-90, behind G Gerald Henderson's 23 points. ... The Knicks had not played since their 102-97 loss to the Bobcats on Tuesday night in New York. That loss prompted a players-only team meeting afterward. ... F Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in scoring in each of their first four games and came into Friday's game 10th in the NBA in scoring at 23.8 ppg. He had 32 against the Bobcats on Tuesday. ... Bobcats C Al Jefferson missed his fifth straight game with a bone bruise in his right ankle, and C Brendan Haywood could miss up to two months with a stress fracture in his left foot. ... C Tyson Chandler is out for the Knicks with a non-displaced fracture of the right fibula. ... The Bobcats will close out a three-game homestand on Monday night against Atlanta. ... The Knicks will return home to play San Antonio on Sunday afternoon.
