Rampant Knicks clinch Atlantic division title
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E-mail Shanghai Daily, April 11, 2013
The New York Knicks clinched their first Atlantic Division title since 1994 on Tuesday as they routed the Washington Wizards 120-99 with another scorching scoring display from Carmelo Anthony.
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Anthony slams dunk in Knicks' win. |
The red-hot Anthony finished with 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists, as the Knicks won their 13th straight game.
"It says a lot about our team," said Anthony, who became the first Knick to post five straight games with 35 or more points since Bernard King in 1985. "We reached one of our goals. We are now going to try and prepare for the postseason."
The National Basketball Association's scoring leader heading into the contest, Anthony shot 13-of-21 from the floor and 3-of-4 from three-point range at the Madison Square Garden arena.
Iman Shumpert added 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the field, while JR Smith and Chris Copeland each came off the bench to score 17 points for the Knicks, who equalled a franchise record with 20 3's.
John Wall led the Wizards with 33 points. Cartier Martin came off the bench to score 16 points for Washington which lost its third game in the last four and 10th straight at Madison Square Garden.
It marks the Knicks first Atlantic Division crown in 19 years when they eventually lost in the NBA finals to the Houston Rockets.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, it was: Pacers 99, Cavaliers 94; Nets 104, 76ers 83; Heat 94, Bucks 83; Raptors 101, Bulls 98; Rockets 101, Suns 98; Grizzlies 94, Bobcats 75; Thunder 90, Jazz 80; Warriors 105, Timberwolves 89; and Lakers 104, Hornets 96.
In New York, the Knicks started quickly, nailing 9-of-12 from beyond the arc in the first quarter. New York led by 13 points heading into the second quarter as Anthony, Shumpert, Copeland and Raymond Felton all had two three-pointers.
Steve Novak stepped up in the second quarter by making three triples as the Knicks' 12 first-half 3's matched their most of any half this season.
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