NEW YORK (AP) — Carmelo Anthony scored 39 points, his best effort since coming to New York, and the Knicks pulled out a 113-106 overtime victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night to snap a six-game losing streak.
Hours after saying the game was "almost a must win" for the Knicks, Anthony added 10 rebounds, and the Knicks got some help when Dwight Howard fouled out in the extra session, then picked up his NBA-leading 17th technical foul.
Amare Stoudemire had 20 points for the Knicks, who won for just the second time in 11 games and inched closer to their first playoff berth since 2004.
Howard rebounded from a quiet first half to finish with 29 points and 18 rebounds, but Orlando didn't score after he picked up his sixth foul.
76ers 97, Bulls 85
CHICAGO — Thaddeus Young scored 21 points and the Philadelphia 76ers built a 23-point lead and held on, beating the Chicago Bulls and ending their 14-game home winning streak.
Chicago, losing for only the second time in its last 14 games overall, got 31 points from Derrick Rose, who also had 10 turnovers. The Bulls still own the best record in the East, leading by two games over the Celtics and Heat. Boston lost to Indiana on Monday night and Miami was idle.
Andre Iguodala added 19 points and seven assists for the 76ers, who lost at the United Center by 45 points in December.
Carlos Boozer scored 15 points for the Bulls, and Joakim Noah had 10 points and 13 rebounds.
Bobcats 87, Bucks 86
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gerald Henderson scored the final seven points, including the go-ahead jumper with 22 seconds left, and the short-handed Charlotte Bobcats staged an unlikely comeback to beat the mistake-prone Milwaukee Bucks 87-86 on Monday night.
Starting with no available centers before losing their top two point guards to injuries, the Bobcats remained in playoff contention after Brandon Jennings missed two layups and a 3-pointer in the final 15 seconds that would have put the Bucks ahead.
Stephen Jackson scored 18 points for the Bobcats, who held Milwaukee scoreless over the final 3:52.
Jennings and Andrew Bogut had 26 points apiece for the Bucks, who lost their second straight and continued an alarming trend of blowing fourth-quarter leads.
Pacers 107, Celtics 100
INDIANAPOLIS — Roy Hibbert scored 26 points as the Indiana Pacers beat the Boston Celtics and remained in sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference playoff race.
Boston point guard Rajon Rondo started after missing Sunday's game against Minnesota with a jammed finger on his right hand. Coach Doc Rivers said before the game that Rondo would not play, but Rondo scored 10 points in the first 5:10 and finished with 22 points and eight assists.
Paul Pierce led Boston with 23 points, and Glen Davis added 20 for the Celtics, who are fading in their quest to catch Chicago for the best record in the East.
Trail Blazers 100, Spurs 92
SAN ANTONIO — Andre Miller scored 26 points and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the slumping and banged-up San Antonio Spurs as Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan sat out with injuries.
The Blazers beat the NBA's winningest team for the second time in three days, this time with four San Antonio starters sidelined. Gerald Wallace added 14 points for Portland and hit a crucial 3-pointer with 2:02 left, finishing a quick 7-0 burst that put the Blazers ahead.
George Hill had 27 points for the Spurs, who have lost four in row, their longest slide this season.
Wizards 100, Jazz 95, OT
SALT LAKE CITY — Rookie John Wall scored 28 points, and Jordan Crawford hit a key shot at the end of regulation and then made two steals in overtime to lead the Washington Wizards to only their second road win.
Crawford finished with 25 points, including eight in the fourth quarter and the tying shot with 4.4 seconds left in regulation. Maurice Evans scored seven of his 12 points in overtime for the Wizards, who were without five players because of injury.
C.J. Miles led the Jazz, which has lost six straight, with 17 points but he made only 3 of 12 from 3-point range and was 1 of 4 in overtime.
