NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks extended their season best winning streak to three, defeating the Orlando Magic 113-106, on Friday night at Madison Square Garden.
It was a back and forth affair in the fourth quarter, where the Magic grabbed the lead, 98-97, on a Nikola Vucevic dunk. But Carmelo Anthony handed the lead back to the Knicks with a tough driving lay-up.
Anthony, recently named to his eight All-Star nod, had a team-high 25 points. Jason Smith added a season high 19 points while Langston Galloway finished with 15 points and eight boards. Lance Thomas came off the bench with 16 points, including two big buckets late in the fourth that helped stave off the Magic.
"They were resilient as a unit out there...they continued to find ways to stay together on both ends of the floor" said Derek Fisher after the game.
It was the Magic's fourth consecutive loss, dropping them to 4.5 games behind the final playoff spot in the Eastern conference.
Vucevic paced Orlando with 34 points and 18 rebounds. Victor Oladipo registered 15 points and Channing Frye chipped in 14.
"The defensive end needs to be a premium. Instead of worrying about scoring the basketball, worry about defending the ball. That will help" Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn said. .
The Orlando Magic hope to return to winning ways against the Indiana Pacers at home while the Knicks look to stretch their streak to four games on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets. (BP)
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