Knicks 108, Nets 91
NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks won the first battle of the boroughs this season, defeating the rival Brooklyn Nets 108-91 on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
Brooklyn (5-14) lost its seventh straight game on the road, their longest slide since ending the 2010-11 with seven losses.
Forward Carmelo Anthony paced the Knicks (10-10) with 28 points and rookie forward Kristaps Porzingis posted his 10th double-double this season with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Arron Afflalo added 18 points.
Center Brook Lopez led the Nets with 21 points and forward Thaddeus Young added 18 points.
Nets forward Joe Johnson was ejected from the game with 8:01 left for a flagrant foul on Knicks guard Jose Calderon, who had 10 assists.
Porzingis helped the Knicks start the third quarter with a 14-7 burst by scoring seven points on a driving dunk, a mid-range jumper and a wide open 3-pointer that made it 79-49 with 7:50 left in the quarter.
The Knicks held a commanding 65-42 lead after two quarters for a season high in first-half points this season. The previous high for a half was 63 against Milwaukee on Oct. 28.
Porzingis and Afflalo scored 10 points each and Anthony contributed nine points to help the Knicks to a 42-21 cushion in the first quarter. The Nets were outscored 21-0 from 3-point range in the quarter.
New York grabbed control early in the game, snapping a 6-6 deadlock by going on a 14-0 run, to move ahead 20-6 with 6:05 left in the first quarter. Anthony and Porzingis combined for 11 of those points.
NOTES: Knicks F Kristaps Porzingis was named the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October and November. The 7-foot-3 Porzingis, chosen fourth in the draft, ranked third among all rookies in scoring (13.7 ppg) and was second in rebounding (9.3 rpg) and blocked shots (1.89 bpg) in October and November. ... This was the 180th regular-season meeting between the Knicks and the Nets. ... Brooklyn G Shane Larkin led the Knicks in minutes played (1,865) last season. ... Twins Robin (Knicks) and Brook (Nets) Lopez met for the eighth time as starters. ... Former Knicks C Andrea Bargnani missed his second straight game with a hamstring injury. ... F Cleanthony Early was inactive for the Knicks.