Knicks 131, Raptors 118
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and nine rebounds and led a first-half 3-point barrage that the New York Knicks rode to a 131-118 victory over the visiting Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night.
The Knicks, who sank a franchise-record 20 3-pointers against Memphis on March 17, blitzed Toronto with 12-of-16 shooting beyond the arc - including Anthony's 5 of 6 - in taking a 78-54 halftime advantage.
New York finished 15 of 27 in the win, which completed a four-game season series sweep.
Reserve Toney Douglas, who tied a Knicks mark with nine of those 3-pointers against the Grizzlies, buried six and scored 28 points, while Amare Stoudemire added 23 for New York (39-38), which pulled within one-half game of Philadelphia for sixth place in the East.
On Wednesday night, the Knicks visit the 76ers, who lost Tuesday at Boston. New York, the league's second-highest scoring team, has won four straight games, topping 120 points in the last three.
By contrast, the Raptors - playing without injured guards Leandro Barbosa and Jose Calderon - didn't even attempt a 3-pointer until DeMar DeRozan buried a 35-footer at the halftime buzzer.
DeRozan's 36 points and 10 rebounds paced Toronto (21-56). Rookie Ed Davis chipped in 22 points.
The Knicks scored the game's first 13 points and were never threatened. After producing a 39-26 first-quarter advantage, New York opened the second on an 18-4 burst to push the margin to 57-30.