JUMP START: Tyson Chandler (left) is ready to leap into action prior to yesterday’s 106-99 win over the Suns at the Garden, which was powered by 34 points from Carmelo Anthony (far right). (
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The Knicks take a licking, but keep on ticking — alone atop the Atlantic Division, still setting milestones.
Even with all three point guards wounded, the Knicks continued to feast on the Jell-O part of their schedule. After mauling the Wizards on Friday, they held off the Suns, 106-99, in Sunday’s Garden matinee, moving to 12-4 and posting their first 7-0 home start since 1992-93.
During what became a relatively close affair in the final six minutes after the Knicks seized an early 21-6 edge, backup point guard Pablo Prigioni received a bloody nose and was removed from the game when Brooklyn native Sebastian Telfair hit him in the face 15 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Starting point guard Raymond Felton jammed his left thumb and finished the game in pain. An MRI exam last night revealed a bone bruise, and the Knicks listed him as day-to-day. Combo guard Jason Kidd already was on the shelf, missing his fourth straight game with back spasms, and backup center Marcus Camby sat out with a sore left foot.
Making matters worse, Rasheed Wallace was ejected for the 31st time in his career after two rapid-fire technical fouls late in the first quarter, completing an 85-second stint.
And all this winning has taken place with Amar’e Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert yet to put on a uniform.There’s no reason to curb your enthusiasm, though, because as Larry David might say, this ride has been “pret-ty, pret-ty good.’’ The Knicks now embark on a three-game trip, which starts Wednesday in Charlotte before showdowns in Miami and Chicago.
“I’m just proud of our team,’’ said Mike Woodson, a strong candidate today to win Eastern Conference Coach of the Month, which no Knick has captured since Pat Riley in March 1994. “We’ve given our fans something to root for. But we still have a long way to go.’’
At least Carmelo Anthony has been the picture of health. He snagged 34 points yesterday, shooting just 11-of-27 but drilling four 3-pointers and hitting a series of post-up turnarounds that have become deadly.
“MVP!’’ chants were heard in the third quarter. Through 16 games, the Knicks have outscored their opponents by 159 points with Anthony on the court — third-best for an individual player in the league.
“It’s good to hear,’’ Anthony said. “You can’t ignore it. If I said I don’t feel good to hear that, I’d be lying to you. Last year, there was no way I could do that. We’re working as a team. As a result, that’s what you hear.’’
Last season, Anthony had one nick-nack injury after another — hip, wrist, elbow, calf, ankle and, ultimately, a broken ego under Mike D’Antoni.
“I’m healthy,’’ Anthony said. “I wasn’t 100 percent last year. We’re winning basketball games and doing it in a great fashion.’’
Anthony had help in Felton’s 23 points and seven assists and Tyson Chandler continuing his historic field-goal accuracy in scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Chandler was 6-of-8 from the field, making him 41-of-50 in his past seven games.
Steve Novak added 12 points on 4-of-9 shooting from 3-point land and 15th man Chris Copeland energized the crowd in Wallace’s absence with a one-handed putback and scored eight points in nine minutes.
The Knicks canned 12 more 3-pointers as Anthony continued to prove dangerous from downtown.
“They study and watch film and they were picking up Tyson on the pick-and-roll going to the rim,’’ Anthony said. “As a result, they left us open with the outside shot. Those are shots we take. Those are shots we make.’’
With 2.8 seconds left in the third, Anthony drilled another 3-pointer and tapped three fingers to his head in salute of Wallace’s ritual.
Wallace was long gone by then. He picked up a technical foul for extra roughhousing on a driving Luis Scola after the whistle had blown. Wallace felt he was justified because Scola kept plowing to the basket after the whistle trying to get a continuation. As Goran Dragic missed the technical, Wallace uttered “Ball don’t lie!’’ and referee John Goble sent him to the showers.
“He’s the only person who can get ejected for saying “Ball don’t lie,’’ said Anthony, laughing.
There were lots of laughs in the locker room despite the Suns’ late rally spurred by Telfair (11 points, three assists). The game wasn’t sealed until J.R. Smith hit two free throws with 26 seconds left after Phoenix cut the deficit to 103-99.
“Every game is not going to be a runaway, a blowout for us,’’ Woodson said. “We were able to get the ‘W,’ that is what counts.’’
The fans cheered Wallace on his way off the court. They’ll cheer anything now.