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Jefferson helps Bobcats take down Knicks

Jan 15, 2014 - 4:59 AM Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Al Jefferson poured in a game-high 35 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Charlotte Bobcats to a 108-98 win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.

"I was feeling good tonight. I made sure I had a good foundation on every one of my shots because I really don't have any lift out of my right ankle. I got a good base and things worked out really well for me out there," Jefferson said.

Kemba Walker added 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists and Gerald Henderson scored 17 for the Bobcats, who had dropped three straight entering the contest.

Charlotte forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist returned to the lineup after missing 19 games with a broken left hand. He had eight points, seven rebounds and two steals in the win.

Carmelo Anthony scored a team-high 20 points, Amare Stoudemire added 17 points and Raymond Felton scored 13 for the Knicks, who had a five-game winning streak snapped.

Knicks guard J.R. Smith did not play (coach's decision).

"I'm not even commenting on J.R. (Smith). I just didn't play him tonight. I just didn't play him," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said.

Beno Udrih had New York within four, 83-79, with his layup at the 10:14 mark of the fourth, but a 10-1 Charlotte burst made it 93-80.

The Knicks managed to cut the deficit to single digits after an Anthony jumper a bit later, but a 13-4 burst from the Bobcats, capped with a Jefferson jumper off a vicious spin move, made it 108-91 with just under two minutes left.

The Knicks never got closer than 10 the rest of the way.

Charlotte led 27-24 after the first quarter and brought a 55-46 lead into the break.

The Bobcats led by 10, 72-62, in the third, but New York closed the frame with an 11-6 run to make it 78-73 entering the final frame.

Game Notes

Charlotte committed just five turnovers ... New York's Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 12 points in the loss.