Knicks 123, Cavaliers 107
Amar’e Stoudemire scored 28 points and Carmelo Anthony added 25 as the New York Knicks recorded a 123-107 victory over the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday and clinched an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Chauncey Billups had 23 points and seven assists for the Knicks (38-38), who are headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2004.
New York, currently in seventh place, earned the playoff spot by virtue of its victory and the Charlotte Bobcats’ loss to the Washington Wizards on Sunday.
J.J. Hickson had 23 points and eight rebounds and Baron Davis scored 22 points for Cleveland (15-61).
New York, which won its third straight, led by as many as 22 in the first half before Cleveland cut the deficit to 67-57 at halftime.
The Cavaliers trailed 93-90 after Ramon Sessions’ layup early in the fourth before the Knicks rolled off 12 straight points, beginning with a 3-pointer by Toney Douglas. Bill Walker completed the surge with two free throws to give New York a 105-90 advantage with eight minutes remaining.
Walker scored 13 points and Douglas added 11 for the Knicks.
Davis made five 3-pointers baskets for Cleveland, including three in a row when he scored 11 consecutive points to pull the Cavaliers within 62-52 with 2:01 left in the first half.