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Knicks crush depleted Pistons

Jan 8, 2012 - 5:21 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds, as the New York Knicks stepped up defensively and pounded the Detroit Pistons, 103-80, to post consecutive wins for the first time this season.

Mike Bibby came off the bench for 16 points and Carmelo Anthony chipped in 13 with seven assists for the Knicks, who were coming off a three-point victory at Washington on Friday. Tyson Chandler ended with 10 points, nine boards and had three of his team's 12 steals.

"Good offense is moving the ball and Amare started in the first half by moving the ball and pushing the ball out a couple times on drives that would set up people," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said. "As long as the players are willing, which they are, then we'll eventually get a stop."

Brandon Knight had 19 points for the injury-plagued Pistons, who lost their third in a row. Ben Gordon had 12 points, but accounted for nine of his team's 21 turnovers that led to 23 New York points.

The Pistons, who played without Austin Daye (sore right ankle), Rodney Stuckey (sore groin) and Charlie Villanueva (sore right ankle), shot 37.2 percent from the floor.

The big difference in Saturday night's game was the second quarter, when the Knicks held a 39-18 scoring advantage. The visitors sizzled from the field by going 15-for-23 in the period, compared to a 5-of-15 performance for the Pistons.

"You know this is not representative of who we want to be so we all have to own it starting with me," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said. "This is going to be a long season and yet what we have to do is figure out all the things that are going to be a part of the solution; and how you deal with adversity, and parts of the game and how you deal with other team runs. We've got some people at different spots, and different opportunities and with that opportunity comes responsibility and everyone will have to do their part, overall tonight was a disappointing performance."

Detroit scored the final six of the opening quarter to get within 25-24.

Bibby then scored all but two of his points in the second quarter. New York scored 16 in a row during the period, started by a Stoudemire jumper and capped by a Bibby three-pointer. That brought the cushion to 55-35 with 4:08 left in the half.

A jumper from Josh Harrellson expanded the margin to 64-42 at the break, and the Knicks held a huge 86-57 lead going to the fourth. They were up as many as 30 in the last quarter.

Game Notes

The Knicks have won eight of the last 11 meetings...Harrellson had 11 points and seven rebounds...Greg Monroe scored 15 for Detroit, which was outscored, 50-32, in the paint.