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Fredette, Kings edge Knicks in OT

Feb 13, 2014 - 7:46 AM New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Jimmer Fredette poured in a career-high 24 points off the bench, and the Sacramento Kings headed into the All-Star break on a high note by coming through with a hard-earned 106-101 overtime victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

Fredette shot a scorching 6-for-8 from 3-point range to help the Kings snap a seven-game road losing streak, while Rudy Gay and Isaiah Thomas contributed 20 points apiece to the win. Gay forced overtime with a successful jumper with 20.8 seconds left in the fourth quarter, while Thomas capped his night with a game-sealing basket in the final seconds of extra time.

DeMarcus Cousins had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Sacramento before exiting the contest in the fourth quarter with a strained left hip flexor.

"I thought our defense and our ability to pull out a win tonight was terrific going into the (All-Star) break and hopefully we can build on this coming out of the break," said Kings head coach Michael Malone.

Carmelo Anthony tuned up for Sunday's All-Star Game with a 36-point, 11- rebound effort, but the Knicks blew a 12-point second-half lead and fell for the fourth time in five games.

"We can't go back and get this game. We didn't finish this game," said New York head coach Mike Woodson.

Amar'e Stoudemire added 20 points on 10-of-15 shooting in the loss, with Tyson Chandler amassing 17 points and 11 rebounds for New York.

The Kings trailed 64-52 early in the second half before closing the gap via an 11-2 run. A Cousins layup later in the third quarter pulled Sacramento within 69-68, and the visitors drew even midway through the fourth when Derrick Williams hit a pair of free throws to forge an 81-81 tie.

New York began to gain some separation late in regulation, as an Anthony jumper off a Kings turnover followed by a Chandler layup put the Knicks up 93-88 with 1:41 left. Fredette buried a clutch three on the ensuing possession, however, and Gay knotted the score at 93-93 by draining a midrange pull-up after New York's Raymond Felton misfired on a 3-point try.

Gay delivered during the opening stages of overtime as well, drilling a trey to begin the frame and coming up with a steal shortly after that led to Williams' uncontested slam that put Sacramento up by five.

The Kings remained in front the rest of the way. Williams canned a jumper for a 104-98 advantage with 32.9 seconds left, and Thomas came through with the dagger with 7.9 seconds showing, right after the Knicks moved within three on a Tim Hardaway triple.

New York strung together a 17-7 surge midway through the first quarter to build a 22-12 lead, and was ahead by as much as 13 points during the opening stanza. Sacramento began the second quarter with a 19-4 burst, however, to claim a 41-37 edge after Williams' dunk off a Gay steal.

Fredette played a big part in the turnaround, recording the first seven points of the run and later burying back-to-back triples that helped draw the Kings closer.

The Knicks closed out the half on a 13-2 flurry, however, to claim a 54-48 lead at the break, then began the third quarter with a 10-4 push to extend the margin to 12 points.

Game Notes

Fredette's previous career high was 22 points, set at Phoenix on Dec. 12, 2012 ... Knicks guard J.R. Smith sat out the game after fracturing his cheekbone Sunday against Oklahoma State ... Stoudemire is averaging 17.0 points over his last four games ... Gay had scored just 19 points combined on a 6-of-23 shooting rate over Sacramento's last two outings.