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Knicks top Pistons in London special

Jan 18, 2013 - 2:43 AM London, England (Sports Network) - Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 26 points and J.R. Smith netted 16 points, six rebounds and four assists as the New York Knicks outlasted the Detroit Pistons, 102-87, at the O2 Arena in London.

Amar'e Stoudemire contributed 17 points and Steve Novak added 13 points on 3- of-6 shooting from 3-point range for the Knicks, who have now won two straight games after a three-game skid last week.

Will Bynum led Detroit with 22 points - 18 of which came in the second half - on 10-of-16 shooting from the field. Kyle Singler registered 15 points and four assists for the Pistons, who have lost two straight.

After opening up action in the third quarter on a 9-6 run capped by a monster slam by Tyson Chandler, the Knicks led by 18 points at 65-47. However, Detroit scraped its way back.

Some stellar defense and the play of Bynum and Greg Monroe sparked a 16-2 run that allowed the Pistons to get all the way back within four, 67-63, with just over two minutes left in the third quarter. They outscored New York 22-19 in the period, but still trailed by a 75-63 score entering the fourth.

The Knicks were still up 12 with just under five minutes remaining, and another Chandler dunk followed by a Novak 3-pointer gave New York a 92-75 lead and enough of a cushion to come away with a victory.

Anthony's 20-foot jumper as the shot clock wound down with 1:43 remaining put the finishing touches on the win -- and the trip to London, for that matter -- by extending New York's lead to 19.

"Defensively, we've been playing well," Stoudemire said. "Offensively, we're playing pretty good there as well. If we just keep going where we are, continue to improve, we'll be in good shape."

Detroit scored first with two Tayshaun Prince free throws, but that would be the only lead it would have all game long. The Knicks responded with a 16-0 run, capped off by a Iman Shumpert 3-pointer with just over 8 1/2 minutes left in the first quarter for a comfortable early edge.

New York led 29-17 after 12 minutes of play and shot 61.1 percent from the floor - including 5-of-8 from behind the arc -- in the first quarter. Anthony accounted for three trey's alone and 11 points.

Shumpert returned into the Knicks' lineup for the first time this season, after he tore his ACL and meniscus in his left knee during the first round of the 2011-12 playoffs. The second-year guard finished with eight points, one steal and two rebounds while playing just under 15 minutes.

Game Notes

Anthony has now scored at least 20 points in 25 straight games, good for the fourth-longest streak in Knicks history ... The Knicks shot 45.8 percent from the floor, compared to 44.3 percent for Detroit ... The Knicks were outscored in the paint, 44-22, and only converted on 11-of-31 attempts from 3-point range ... The game was the seventh in the NBA played "across the pond" in London, including preseason contests.