The New York Knicks romped to their first Atlantic Division title since 1994, getting 36 points from Carmelo Anthony and beating the Washington Wizards 120-99 on Tuesday night for their 13th straight victory.
Anthony put the game away with 21 points during the Knicks’ 37-point third quarter that gave them a 95-71 lead. The NBA’s scoring leader added eight rebounds and six assists while becoming the first Knick since newly elected Hall of Famer Bernard King with five straight 35-point games.
Iman Shumpert added 18 points for the Knicks, who negated a height disadvantage by tying a franchise record with 20 three-pointers. J.R. Smith and Chris Copeland each added 17 points.
Photo: Reuters
On their longest winning streak since winning 15 in a row from March 1 to April 2, 1994, the Knicks can tie the franchise record of 18 in a row, set early in their first NBA championship season of 1969-1970, by winning their final five games.
John Wall scored 33 points for the Wizards.
HEAT 94, BUCKS 83
In Miami, LeBron James scored 28 points, while Udonis Haslem had 10 points and 15 rebounds as Miami moved a step closer to wrapping up home-court advantage in the playoffs with a win over Milwaukee.
The Heat tied a franchise single-season record by winning for the 61st time, getting there with five games remaining. Miami need only one more win or one San Antonio loss to clinch the top overall seed for the entirety of the playoffs.
Norris Cole and Ray Allen each scored 11 for the Heat, who played without an injured Dwyane Wade and an ill Chris Bosh.
Brandon Jennings scored 30 points for the Bucks, who will likely meet Miami in the first round.
THUNDER 90, JAZZ 80
In Salt Lake City, Utah, Russell Westbrook scored 25 points, while Kevin Durant added 21 as the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Utah Jazz 90-80 on Tuesday night.
The Thunder continued their push to claim the top overall seed in the West, while the Jazz fell into a tie with the Lakers for the final playoff spot in the West. Utah own the tiebreaker over the Lakers.
Paul Millsap’s dunk pulled Utah within four, but Durant hit two free throws and Westbrook stole the inbound pass to seal it for the Thunder.
Mo Williams led the Jazz with 19 points.
PACERS 99, CAVALIERS 94
In Indianapolis, Indiana, George Hill scored 27 points and David West added 15 to help Indiana rally from a 20-point deficit for a win over Cleveland.
Paul George chipped in with 14 points, Lance Stephenson had 13 and Tyler Hansbrough 12 for the Pacers, who can clinch the No. 3 seed in the East with a win over the Brooklyn Nets tomorrow.
Kyrie Irving scored 29 points and Indiana native Tyler Zeller had 18 before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter for Cleveland, which allowed the Pacers to break off a 25-4 run in the fourth for a 93-92 lead.
George hit a three-pointer with 29.9 seconds left and Jeff Pendergraph drew a charge on Irving to seal it.
GRIZZLIES 94, BOBCATS 75
In Memphis, Tennessee, Mike Conley scored 20 points, while Zach Randolph had 11 points and 13 rebounds as Memphis beat Charlotte.
Memphis won their 13th straight at home, tying a franchise record with their 31st home win.
Kemba Walker scored 19 points to lead the Bobcats and Gerald Henderson had 13.
The Grizzlies led 63-60 early in the fourth quarter, before pulling away behind a 15-0 run generated mostly by their reserves. Seldom-used Jon Leuer had seven points during the run and finished with 11. Memphis, who lead the NBA in scoring defense (89.7 points per game), held Charlotte to 37.7 percent shooting.
NETS 104, 76ERS 83
In New York, Brook Lopez scored 29 points, while Reggie Evans added 17 points and 24 rebounds as Brooklyn firmly held their ground in the East with a victory over Philadelphia.
Deron Williams and Joe Johnson had 11 points apiece for the Nets, who began the day with a two-game lead over Chicago for the No. 4 seed and home-court advantage in the first round.
Reserve guard MarShon Brooks had 11 points and seven assists for the Nets, winners of two straight overall and three of four in the season series against the 76ers. The Nets were to play in Boston last night, with four games remaining.
Nick Young had 18 points and Jrue Holiday scored 15 for the Philadelphia.
WARRIORS 105, TIMBERWOLVES 89
In Oakland, California, Klay Thompson scored 30 points, while Stephen Curry added 24 points and 10 assists as Golden State clinched a playoff berth with a rout of Minnesota.
David Lee finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds to propel the Warriors to their first post-season appearance since 2007 and just their second in 19 years.
In other NBA action, it was:
‧ Raptors 101, Bulls 98
‧ Lakers 104, Hornets 96
Brazil has four teams, more than any other country, in the expanded Club World Cup that kicked off yesterday in the US, but for SE Palmeiras, the competition holds a special meaning: winning it would provide some redemption. Under coach Abel Ferreira since 2020, Palmeiras lifted two Copa Libertadores titles, plus Brazilian league, cup and state championships. Even before Ferreira, it boasted another South American crown and 11 league titles. The only major trophy missing is a world champions’ title. Other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense FC and Botafogo FR, also in the tournament, have never won it either, but the problem for Palmeiras
Manchester City on Monday completed the signing of left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a reported ￡31 million (US$41.8 million). The 24-year-old Algeria international has signed a five-year contract and will be available for the FIFA Club World Cup, which begins later this week. Ait-Nouri is expected to be just one of a trio of new City faces for that tournament with deals close to completion for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Olympique Lyonnais playmaker Rayan Cherki. After missing out on a major trophy in the recently completed season for the first time since 2016-2017, City are hoping
Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in has pleaded with South Korea fans to get behind the team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after more boos were aimed at coach Hong Myung-bo despite leading them to qualification. South Korea reached next year’s finals in North America without losing a game, but that does not tell the whole story. The country’s soccer association has been in the firing line, having scrambled about to find a successor after sacking the unpopular Jurgen Klinsmann in February last year. They eventually settled on Hong, the decorated former skipper who had an unsuccessful stint as coach in 2013-2014, during which
Lionel Messi drew vast crowds and showed flashes of his brilliance when his Inter Miami side were held to a goalless draw by African giants Al-Ahly as the revamped FIFA Club World Cup got off to a festive start on Saturday. Fans showed up en masse for the Group A clash at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, but Messi could not fully deliver, his best chance coming through a last-second attempt that was deflected onto the crossbar. Inter Miami next face FC Porto on Thursday in Atlanta, while Al-Ahly, who benefited from raucous, massive support, are to
RSS