Bucks 80 - 89 Knicks
Final
  for this game

Anthony pushes Knicks past Bucks

Mar 27, 2012 - 3:48 AM New York, NY (Sports Network) - Missing Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin, the Knicks got 28 points and 12 rebounds from Carmelo Anthony to down the Bucks, 89-80, in Monday's critical Eastern Conference clash.

Stoudemire is out indefinitely with a bulging disc in his lower back and Lin is dealing with a sore right knee, but Tyson Chandler and Baron Davis added 13 points apiece on Monday, allowing New York to extend its lead over Milwaukee for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot to 2 1/2 games.

The Knicks, who trail Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia and Boston by 2 1/2 games, improved to 7-1 under interim coach Mike Woodson.

Mike Dunleavy made five three-pointers and finished with 26 points to pace the Bucks, losers of three of their last four. Brandon Jennings had 15 on 6-of-22 shooting.

"I don't think either team played particularly well," said Bucks coach Scott Skiles. "Not high-level, quality basketball from both teams but somebody had to win."

Though Dunleavy was incredibly efficient early, he failed to score in a fourth quarter which saw the Knicks open with back-to-back buckets from J.R. Smith and Josh Harrellson for a 72-64 lead.

Their largest advantage of the game came minutes later, when Smith knocked down a three-pointer, stretching the margin to 84-74.

The Bucks responded with a 6-0 run, getting four points from Jennings and a jumper from Drew Gooden, but Anthony drew a double team on New York's next touch and found Iman Shumpert for an open trey and an 87-80 lead with 2:09 left.

Jennings then had three consecutive unsuccessful possessions. First, he missed a three-pointer. Then, he was stripped by Shumpert in transition. Lastly, he was blocked by Chandler with 42 seconds remaining. Two Steve Novak free throws sealed the final result.

Dunleavy went 0-for-3 in the fourth, but missed just one shot in the first half, going 9-for-10 for 24 points, as the Bucks took a 52-47 lead into the break.

Anthony personally outscored Milwaukee in the third -- 14-12 -- and the Knicks were up, 68-64, entering the final quarter.

"It was huge," Chandler said of Anthony's performance. "I know that he's been upset with himself but we all told him that he's been playing great for us, especially on this winning streak."

Game Notes

Stoudemire played just 24 minutes in Saturday's win over Detroit before leaving due to a sore back. He underwent an MRI, which revealed the bulging disc...The Bucks saw their five-game road winning streak come to an end.






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