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Anthony guides Knicks to rout of Jazz

Mar 8, 2014 - 5:44 AM New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Carmelo Anthony tallied 29 points and a season-high eight assists to key a 108-81 New York Knicks rout of the Utah Jazz from Madison Square Garden.

Twelve different Knicks scored in this one, with J.R. Smith hitting five 3- pointers en route to 17 points and Tyson Chandler posting 16 points with a game-high 11 rebounds. The Knicks have won two in a row on the heels of a seven-game skid.

"Right now we have to try and win as many basketball games as possible to make it to the playoffs," said Chandler. "My job as a leader is to do whatever it takes to win basketball games."

Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks netted 18 points apiece for the Jazz, who have lost five in a row. Richard Jefferson added 12 in the setback.

It was 5-5 early on when Anthony netted seven points during an 11-3 New York surge. Amar'e Stoudemire capped the burst with a jam at 6:46.

The Knicks shot a blistering 70 percent -- including 6-of-10 from 3-point range -- in the opening 12 minutes and led 39-22 after Anthony hit a triple just seconds before the buzzer.

"You can't ease your way into a game," said Jefferson. "You have to come out with energy and with a ferocity."

Utah never threatened in this one, trailing by at least 10 points the rest of the way.

Just 4:14 into the second quarter, Jefferson's 3-ball cut New York's advantage to 43-33. Utah's next three possessions featured two missed field goals and a turnover, while Smith's triple highlighted a 9-0 run at the other end.

The Knicks led 60-41 at halftime and 84-60 after three before emptying the bench.

Game Notes

New York outscored Utah 21-6 in transition ... Utah won the rebounding margin 47-35 but shot just 6-of-27 from the arc ... Jazz center Enes Kanter finished with nine points and nine rebounds ... The Jazz turned the ball over 19 times while forcing just seven NY miscues.