Knicks 102, Suns 84
NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks ended a four-game losing streak with a 102-84 win over the Phoenix Suns on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
New York (23-26) narrowly missed its second wire-to-wire win of the season. The Suns took a 2-1 lead early in the game and never led again.
The Knicks' only game this season where it never trailed came against the Philadelphia 76ers (99-87) on Dec. 2.
The 18-point decision against the Suns was the Knicks' second largest margin of victory this season. They defeated Milwaukee 122-97 on opening night.
Phoenix (14-34) has lost 13 straight road games, the longest road losing streak for the franchise in 32 years. The Suns' last road win this season came on Dec. 7 at Chicago.
Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony returned after missing two games with a sore knee. The All-Star had 19 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists for his 12th double-double of the season. Guard Arron Afflalo chipped in with 17 points for the Knicks.
Anthony and Afflalo both sat the entire fourth quarter with the Knicks maintaining mostly a lead of 20-plus points.
Knicks center Robin Lopez contributed 13 points and Langston Galloway, starting at point guard for injured Jose Calderon, added 11 points, seven rebounds and five assists.
Shooting guard Devin Booker topped the Suns with 21 points.
Galloway gave the Knicks a 74-49 cushion with a deep 3-pointer from the right elbow with 7:08 remaining in the third quarter. The Suns never got closer than 17 points in the quarter.
New York moved the ball crisply in the first half, producing 16 assists on 19 baskets. Anthony played the distributor role with six assists to go with 12 points as the Knicks built a 58-40 halftime lead.
Phoenix got as close as 32-24 before Anthony scored seven straight points for a 39-24 Knicks lead with 7:18 left in the second quarter.
The Suns committed nine turnovers in just under six minutes, leading to an 18-4 New York lead.
NOTES: The Knicks were without G Jose Calderon (sore groin), who had started 46 games at point guard. ... New York is 0-6 without F Carmelo Anthony. ... The Knicks were playing their third game in four nights. ... The Knicks signed F Thanasis Antetokounmpo to a 10-day contract from Westchester of the D-League. He was averaging 10.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.26 blocks in 27 games with Westchester. He is the older brother of Milwaukee Bucks F Giannis. ... Suns G Brandon Knight missed his fifth straight game with a strained groin. ... Phoenix signed G Jordan McRae to a 10-day contract from Delaware of the D-League.