Porzingis leads Knicks over Nets
NEW YORK -- Kristaps Porzingis matched his career high with four 3-pointers on the way to scoring 21 points to help the New York Knicks defeat the Brooklyn Nets 110-96 Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.
It marked the first time in his two-year career that Porzingis has scored at least 20 points in three straight games. Carmelo Anthony topped the Knicks (3-4) with 22 points.
It was the first time this season the much maligned Knicks defense held an opponent to under 100 points.
Brandon Jennings became the first Knicks player with at least 10 assists off the bench since 2012. The backup point guard dished out 11 assists in 23 minutes.
Justin Hamilton and Brook Lopez scored 21 points apiece for Brooklyn (3-5), which was playing its second game in as many nights.
The Knicks sealed it by opening the fourth quarter by outscoring Brooklyn 20-7 to extend their lead to 92-78 with 6:58 to play. Porzingis drilled two 3-pointers and a conventional three-point play in the sequence, scoring nine points in just two minutes
After a sluggish first half, Antony got hot in the third quarter. He scored 12 straight points to give the Knicks a 70-69 lead with 2:31 left in the frame. It was New York's first lead since early in the game. He scored 14 of the Knicks' 22 third quarter points.
Jennings helped facilitate for the Knicks with six assists in the quarter.
An 8-0 Brooklyn run advanced its lead to 67-58 with 5:11 to play in the third after the Knicks had moved to within one point.
The Knicks whittled a 49-39 Nets lead down to 55-50 at the half on the strength of two 3-pointers from Anthony and a trey and dunk from Porzingis. Anthony was 3-for-11 from the floor in the first half.
Lopez and Hamilton scored 15 points apiece in the first half
The Nets bench players contributed 16 points to help Brooklyn to a 29-19 first-quarter advantage.
The Nets took advantage of some shaky perimeter defense by the Knicks, hitting 5-of-11 3-pointers.
NOTES: The Nets waived G Greivis Vasquez, who appeared in three games this season, averaging 2.3 points and 1.7 assists in 12.9 minutes per game, but he battled through an ankle injury. "Greivis did everything we asked of him and more to try to get back on the court at full strength," Nets general manager Sean Marks said. "The passion, grit and perseverance he has shown since he joined the team have been remarkable." ... The Knicks assigned G Ron Baker and F Marshall Plumlee to Westchester of the D-League. ... Brooklyn began a five-game road trip on Wednesday. ... The Nets were the Knicks' first Atlantic Division opponent this season.