Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony each scored 20 points and the New York Knicks held off the Sacramento Kings 106-98 on Sunday night for their eighth win in 11 games.
The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, gave up 18 consecutive points in the third quarter but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win their third straight overall and improve to 9-3 at home.
Brandon Jennings added 19 points for New York and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds.
DeMarcus Cousins had 36 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, but shot just 9 for 30 and looked fatigued while struggling late while playing the entire second half.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek talked before the game about his team's need to put teams away when building a lead, but instead New York nearly gave back a huge one in this game.
The Knicks used an 18-4 run to expand a seven-point lead to 48-27 midway through the second quarter, but the Kings got it down to 55-41 at halftime.
New York had reopened a 19-point cushion before suddenly sending the Kings to the foul line too much and not scoring at all, as Sacramento's 18-0 run cut it to 72-71 late in the third.
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Leading by two with just under five minutes left, the Knicks got a 3-pointer by Anthony to start a 7-2 spurt that finally put it away.
Sacramento dropped its third straight on its road trip that was shortened to five games after a game in Philadelphia was postponed because of unsafe court conditions.
TIP-INS
Kings: The Kings intentionally fouled Joakim Noah away from the ball twice down the stretch and it worked - defensively, at least - as he missed all four free throws. But Sacramento couldn't follow up either time with a basket. ... Kings Vice President Vlade Divac and Knicks President Phil Jackson enjoyed a pregame chat along the sideline. Jackson coached the Lakers and Divac played with the Kings when the teams had a fierce rivalry in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Knicks: Noah returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle, but fellow starter Courtney Lee missed his second straight with the same injury. Hornacek said the guard was feeling pretty good but still having trouble moving side to side. ... Anthony left in the first quarter and went to the locker room area for treatment of a cut lower lip.
SEE YOU SOON
When the Kings finally get home from their road trip, the first team to visit Friday is the Knicks, a team Sacramento coach Dave Joerger believes is on the rise.
"I think it's an exciting time for them," he said. "I'm not really excited about playing them twice in eight days but I think they look good."
UP NEXT
Kings: Visit Dallas on Wednesday night to end their road trip.
Knicks: Visit Miami on Tuesday night. The Knicks snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Heat with a 98-90 victory last Jan. 6 in their last trip to South Florida.
