Knicks 92, Mavericks 80
Carmelo Anthony scored 15 of his 19 points in the opening quarter as visiting New York outlasted Dallas to earn a split of a four-game road trip.
Kenyon Martin tallied a season-high 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting and Andrea Bargnani added 13 points for the Knicks. Amar’e Stoudemire contributed 11 points and seven rebounds to help New York to a 47-34 rebounding advantage.
Dirk Nowitzki had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Mavericks, who lost their fourth consecutive home game. Monta Ellis and Vince Carter added 13 points apiece as Dallas lost for only the third time in its last 17 home contests against the Knicks.
New York had a 14-point lead four-plus minutes into the fourth quarter before the Mavericks rallied back within six on Ellis’ basket. Iman Shumpert drained a 3-pointer with 1:13 remaining to make it 87-78 and begin a game-ending 8-2 run.
Dallas shot just 36.1 percent from the field in the first half as New York rode Anthony’s hot first quarter to a 52-35 halftime lead. The Knicks led by as many as 19 in the third quarter before taking a 67-57 advantage into the final stanza.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Shumpert had just nine points after averaging 26.5 points over the previous two games. … Mavericks F Shawn Marion had just two points on 1-of-6 shooting. … New York again played without PG Raymond Felton (groin), F Metta World Peace (knee) and G Pablo Prigioni (toe).