• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Knicks go for three in a row vs. Wizards

Nov 4, 2014 - 3:18 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The New York Knicks will try for three wins in a row Tuesday night when they welcome the Washington Wizards to Madison Square Garden.

After a particularly ugly season-opening loss to the Chicago Bulls at MSG, the Knicks picked up a great win in Cleveland against the Cavaliers in LeBron James' return.

On Sunday, the Knicks knocked off the Charlotte Hornets, 96-93, at home.

Carmelo Anthony became the 40th player in NBA history to score 20,000 points in the win. Anthony, who entered the game just three points shy of the 20,000- point plateau, finished with 28 and hit the eventual game-winner for New York.

Anthony drilled a contested jumper from the elbow to give New York the lead for good with 1:24 remaining.

"It's a humbling experience for me," Anthony said. "I never thought that I would be sitting here talking about me scoring 20,000 points."

Amare Stoudemire registered a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds off the bench. Iman Shumpert added 15 points as the Knicks shot 50 percent from the field and 50 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

The Wizards opened the season with a loss in Miami, but have since rattled off back-to-back victories. The Wiz beat the Orlando Magic on the road, then knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks at home, 108-97, on Saturday.

Nene scored 22 points and the Wizards continued Milwaukee's road woes.

Otto Porter contributed 21 points and John Wall posted 19 points, 10 assists and five steals in Washington's home opener. Marcin Gortat finished with 20 points, nine boards and three blocks, while Garrett Temple posted 18 points.

"The last three years we lost every home opener, so we wanted to come out and just play the right way, play our defense, move the ball and make shots," Wall said. "I think we did a great job of that."

Paul Pierce, playing in his first home game as a member of the Wizards, was ejected with seven seconds left in the opening half. He fouled Brandon Knight to stop a pass that would have led to a breakaway dunk from Jabari Parker. Pierce argued the clear-path foul call, which was confirmed after a video review. He was assessed two technicals and was sent to the locker room.

That left the door open for Porter's big night.

The Wizards swept the Knicks in three games last season, but the Knicks have taken 12 of the previous 16 matchups. Washington may have won two in a row at the Garden, but it is 3-12 in its last 15 as the visitor in this series.