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Knicks handle Bobcats, spoil Ewing's debut

Nov 9, 2013 - 5:31 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - It wasn't the head coaching debut Patrick Ewing envisioned himself being thrust into.

Carmelo Anthony had 28 points, eight rebounds and six assists, while Andrea Bargnani added 25 points and eight boards as the New York Knicks downed the Charlotte Bobcats, 101-91.

Ewing, the former star center who spent 15 seasons with the Knicks, filled in as Charlotte's head coach Steve Clifford had two stents placed in his heart during a procedure Friday after suffering chest pains during a dinner, the team said.

"I was nervous at first but once the game started I was able to calm down and do my thing," Ewing said.

Clifford was admitted to the hospital Thursday night and underwent testing on Friday morning, leading doctors to conclude he needed the procedure. The Bobcats said Clifford was "resting comfortably" and would re-join the team soon.

Raymond Felton added 15 points and five assists for the Knicks, who snapped a three-game slide.

"We played like our backs were against the wall," Anthony said.

Kemba Walker registered 25 points and five assists for Charlotte, which had won three of its last four tilts coming in.

The Knicks held a 51-49 advantage less than a minute into the second half before going on a 16-0 run to seize control of the contest. Pablo Prigioni, Bargnani and Iman Shumpert nailed 3-pointers during the surge as New York took a commanding 66-49 spread with 7:48 to go in the frame.

The bulge reached 19 in the closing moments of the third before Walker's 3 at the horn cut the gap to 85-69 heading into the fourth.

Charlotte never got within single digits in the final stanza.

New York led 28-22 after a quarter of play and took a 51-47 margin into the locker room.

Game Notes

New York scored 22 points off 15 Charlotte turnovers ... New York was 12-of-26 from beyond the arc ... Gerald Henderson had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Bobcats.