Pelicans 103, Knicks 99
Ryan Anderson came off the bench to score a game-high 31 points, including seven 3-pointers, as visiting New Orleans handed New York its ninth consecutive defeat.
Tyreke Evans added 24 points off the bench for the Pelicans, who lost leading scorer Anthony Davis after one quarter with a non-displaced fracture in his left hand. Jrue Holiday contributed 11 points and nine assists while Eric Gordon chipped in with 10 points as New Orleans won for the fifth time in seven games.
Carmelo Anthony had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, but rimmed out a 3-pointer that could have tied it at 102 with 18.9 seconds left. Tim Hardaway Jr. recorded a career-high 21 points and Andrea Bargnani added 17 for the Knicks, who have dropped seven in a row at home.
The Pelicans trailed by as much as seven in the third before scoring eight straight late, highlighted by a Brian Roberts 3-pointer, to lead
76-74 going to the fourth. Hardaway’s 3-pointer gave the Knicks an 88-82
lead before the Pelicans chipped away and went ahead for good at 94-93 on
Anderson’s layup with 4:11 remaining.
J.R. Smith drained a 3-pointer to ignite the run as the Knicks scored seven of the last nine points in the first quarter to take a 20-16 lead. Bargnani had six of his team-high 12 first half points late in the second quarter to help New York edge ahead 49-44 at intermission.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Davis had seven points and four rebounds in 10 minutes before leaving the game and the team said a timetable for his return has yet to be determined. … Smith had 12 points and eight rebounds despite playing with a sore left knee and Raymond Felton added 12 points and eight assists for the Knicks. … New Orleans beat New York for only the second time in the last 10 meetings.