Associated Press Associated Press ADVERTISING NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony had 35 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double, and the New York Knicks made 19 3-pointers to preserve their Atlantic Division title hopes with a
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony had 35 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists for his second career triple-double, and the New York Knicks made 19 3-pointers to preserve their Atlantic Division title hopes with a 118-110 victory over the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.
JR Smith and Steve Novak both scored 25 points for the Knicks, who overcame a season-high 43 points from Paul Pierce and moved into sole possession of seventh place in the Eastern Conference while trimming Boston’s division lead to 3 1/2 games. The Celtics would have wrapped up their fifth straight Atlantic title with a victory.
Instead, the Knicks staggered them with a record-tying 14 3-pointers in a 72-point first half and equaled their season high by finishing 19 of 32 behind the arc. They improved to 14-5 under interim coach Mike Woodson.
SPURS 112, LAKERS 91
LOS ANGELES — Tony Parker had 29 points and 13 assists, and Tim Duncan had 19 points and eight rebounds as San Antonio handed the Lakers their worst loss of the season.
Manu Ginobili scored 15 points as the Spurs improved their spot atop the Western Conference with their fourth straight win. They also snapped Los Angeles’ four-game winning streak while dominating a meeting of division leaders — albeit with Kobe Bryant sitting out his sixth straight game to rest his bruised shin.
Andrew Bynum had 21 points and seven rebounds for the Lakers, while Matt Barnes and Pau Gasol scored 16 points apiece.
San Antonio, which had lost three straight to the Lakers, went on an 18-0 run in the second quarter and stretched its lead to 23 points in the third quarter in its 15th win in 17 games.
PACERS 102, 76ERS 97
PHILADELPHIA — Danny Granger scored 24 points, and Roy Hibbert had 15 points and 13 rebounds to lead Indiana to its sixth straight win.
The Pacers won their fifth straight road game and 10th of 11 overall and seem to be hitting their stride as the postseason nears. The Pacers play their final four games at home and, barring a complete collapse, should earn the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Andre Iguodala scored 23 points for the Sixers in their third straight loss as they continue their late-season fade. They lead idle Milwaukee by only 1½ games for the eighth and final spot in the East. The Sixers play their final five games on the road, including April 25 at Milwaukee.
PISTONS 116, CAVALIERS 77
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Brandon Knight had 28 points and seven assists, and Detroit routed Cleveland in one of the NBA’s most lopsided games of the season.
Tayshaun Prince added 15 points for the Pistons and Jonas Jerebko scored 14. Detroit led 61-38 at halftime and scored the first 16 points of the third quarter. It was 100-50 after three.
The Cavaliers were without rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, who was out with a right shoulder problem and hasn’t played since April 3. Irving could return Wednesday night against Philadelphia. Cleveland forward Alonzo Gee was a late scratch because of a left ankle sprain.
According to STATS LLC, the biggest blowout of the season was Portland’s 44-point victory over Charlotte on Feb. 1.
Manny Harris led the Cavaliers with 18 points.
GRIZZLIES 91, T-WOLVES 84
MINNEAPOLIS — Rudy Gay had 28 points and nine rebounds to help Memphis withstand a weak start to the fourth quarter and beat Minnesota for the eighth straight time.
J.J. Barea scored a season-high 28 points on 5-for-9 shooting from 3-point range to go with eight assists and five rebounds, but the Timberwolves lost their 11th straight — and their 27th consecutive game in April. They have three more tries this season to stop that streak.
Zach Randolph added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, who moved within two games of the Los Angeles Clippers for fourth place in the Western Conference and crept closer toward clinching a playoff spot.
