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Knicks rout Bucks

Mar 15, 2014 - 10:27 PM New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - Phil Jackson has to like what he's seeing from the New York Knicks recently.

Three days before Jackson is expected to be named the franchise's new president, Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks took care of the lowly Milwaukee Bucks, 115-94, in a Saturday matinee at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony scored 23 points in three quarters for the Knicks, who announced they will hold a press conference on Tuesday regarding a "major announcement."

Jackson will be tasked with turning around a New York team that has rattled off a season-high six straight wins but is still on the outside looking in at the postseason.

"Our backs are against the wall. We're trying to get into the playoffs," Knicks head coach Mike Woodson said. "This year has been a roller coaster ride for our ball club but we still can come out of this thing by trying to get the eighth spot. The only way we can do that is by continuing to win."

Tim Hardaway Jr. netted 20 points off the bench, Amar'e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith each went for 15 and Iman Shumpert had 14 in the rout.

Nate Wolters paced the Bucks with 15 points, while Brandon Knight and Ramon Sessions chipped in 14 apiece in the club's sixth loss in seven games.

The Knicks jumped out to a comfortable 60-42 lead at the break after shooting 56.4 from the field and a perfect 11-of-11 from the foul line in the first half.

"They shot the ball extremely well," Bucks coach Larry Drew said. "When they're making shots like that they're tough to defend."

Anthony led the way with 10 points in the first quarter, Hardaway netted 11 in the second and New York converted six Milwaukee turnovers into 13 points en route to the healthy halftime cushion.

Anthony and Stoudemire each went for nine points in the third, and the difference did not dip below 20 until both benches had already emptied midway through the fourth quarter.

Game Notes

Milwaukee has dropped five straight on the road and fell to 5-27 as the visitor ... New York won the season series 3-1 ... The Knicks have won five straight meetings at MSG.