Knicks 102, Hawks 90
Amar’e Stoudemire returned from a one-game hiatus and scored 23 points as the New York Knicks stopped the visiting Atlanta Hawks 102-90 on Wednesday night.
Danilo Gallinari added 17 points, nine rebounds and three 3-pointers for the Knicks, who have won two straight after losing four of five and 11 of 15. Stoudemire, who missed Saturday’s win against New Jersey with a toe injury, shot 8 of 17 and added seven rebounds.
Marvin Williams scored 17 points and Mike Bibby had 15 as Atlanta dropped to 1-1 on its seven-game road trip and 17-12 away from Philips Arena this season.
Stoudemire and Raymond Felton combined for 23 points and eight assists in the opening 24 minutes to provide New York a 52-45 lead. Gallinari opened the second half with a 3-pointer, and the Knicks pushed the edge to 74-58 with 3:40 left in the third on a runner by Wilson Chandler. Atlanta didn’t threaten thereafter.
Hawks sixth man Jamal Crawford, who entered with just 21 points on 8-of-31 shooting over his previous four games, was 0 of 3 in the first half and finished 3 of 11 for seven points.