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Knicks try to stay unbeaten at home versus Suns

Dec 2, 2012 - 3:33 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Knicks are one of only three teams in the NBA with an unblemished record at home and look to keep it that way when they host the Phoenix Suns Sunday afternoon from Madison Square Garden.

New York is 6-0 on its home floor and has won eight in a row at MSG dating back to last season. The Knicks were in action in front of the home crowd Friday night and disposed of the Washington Wizards 108-87 behind 20 points from both Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith.

Tyson Chandler posted his fourth double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points and 10 rebounds, for the Knicks, who have won two in a row and three of four games. The Knicks held the Wizards to 41 second-half points and their lead never fell below double digits over the last two quarters.

Pablo Prigioni filled in for veteran guard Jason Kidd (back) and posted eight points and five assists. Kidd missed his third straight game with back spasms and is out indefinitely.

"Pablo's a giving type of player," said Knicks coach Mike Woodson. "He's a pass first guy, all the players love that."

The last time New York started 7-0 at home was back in 1992-93, when it began the season with nine straight victories as the host.

After Sunday's game versus the Suns, the Knicks, who are fourth in the NBA with 102.7 ppg and lead the Atlantic Division, will begin a three-game road trip Wednesday against Charlotte, Miami and Chicago. In other team news, Anthony is third in the league with 26.1 ppg and leads the NBA with 10.1 ppg in the first quarter. The Knicks average an NBA-best 27.5 points in the first 12 minutes of play.

Anthony has led the team in scoring in 14 of the first 15 games this season, and has posted 20-plus points 14 times.

Phoenix hasn't had much success on its season-long, six-game road trip (1-3), but will try to stun the Knickerbockers on their home floor. The losing ways continued for the Suns in Friday's 101-97 setback at Toronto, where Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown and Jared Dudley scored 14 points apiece.

"I thought that we played well and that the game could have gone both ways," Suns coach Alvin Gentry said. "They made plays at the end of the game. I thought we did a great job moving the ball tonight, we just didn't make plays at the end of the game."

Goran Dragic and Michael Beasley scored 13 and 12 points, respectively, for Phoenix, which is 2-7 away from the desert and will close out the road swing Tuesday against Memphis. Dragic is the only Suns player with at least 10 points in every game this season.

Phoenix may have trouble stopping Anthony and the Knicks because it is allowing an NBA-high 102.5 ppg this season.

The Suns won the only meeting with New York during the lockout shortened campaign, posting a 91-88 triumph Jan. 18. Phoenix has won three of four and 12 of the previous 16 meetings with the Knicks.