Knicks Crush Wizards 103-65, Tie For 7th In Eastern Conference

New York Knicks' Steve Novak (16) celebrates after making a 3-pointer as Washington Wizards' Chris Singleton (31) walks by during the second half of an NBA basketball game Friday, April 13, 2012, in New York. The Knicks won 103-65. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

NEW YORK -- Baron Davis scored a season-high 18 points on his 33rd birthday, JR Smith had 23, and the New York Knicks surged into a tie for seventh place in the Eastern Conference by routing the Washington Wizards 103-65 on Friday night.

Carmelo Anthony and Steve Novak also had 18 for the Knicks, who could now be looking at a playoff preview when they host second-place Miami on Sunday. The Knicks tied Philadelphia after the 76ers lost earlier Friday to New Jersey, and New York holds the tiebreaker for the No. 7 seed.

Anthony was well off his NBA-leading average of 32.4 points through his first five games in April. But he only played 29 minutes as the Knicks narrowly missed their second 40-point victory under interim coach Mike Woodson.

Davis shot 7 of 9 in just 23 minutes for the Knicks, who won for the fifth time in six games and improved to 14-4 under Woodson, who started with a 42-point victory over Portland on March 14.

Jordan Crawford scored 17 points for the Wizards, who were trying to win three straight for the first time in their miserable season. But they never led in their ninth consecutive loss to the Knicks.

Washington had only 47 points after three quarters and was stuck there for a while in the fourth as fans chanted "forty-seven!" John Wall shot 2 of 12 and finished with eight points.

New York solidified its hold on eighth place with a victory in Milwaukee on Wednesday, but quickly showed it isn't looking to settle for the lowest seed.

The Knicks led 26-13 after one quarter. They closed the first half with an 18-5 burst to take a 54-33 lead after Washington had closed within eight, and gave everyone plenty of rest before the early start Sunday.

The only bad news in the Knicks' ninth straight home victory was Iman Shumpert leaving with a sprained right ankle after 23 minutes.

NOTES: The Knicks have won the last eight meetings at Madison Square Garden. Their winning streak against the Wizards is their longest current streak against an opponent. ... Woodson said Amare Stoudemire, out with a bulging disk in his back, took contact while playing in a pickup game during Thursday's off day. He isn't expected to return until mid to late next week. ... Knicks PG Jeremy Lin had the stitches from his left knee surgery removed.

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Comments

[sdave]

10:41 AM on 04/15/2012

So every time the Knicks win a game, they deserve a headline of HuffPost? Sheesh, we heard the same thing the other day when the Yankees finally won one game......I guess we will have to hear every NFL game NY wins too, now that they have Timmy Tebow.....typical NY sports media slant.....ugh....

[airlau]

10:06 AM on 04/15/2012

Either Chicago or Miami will probably win the series. At least it seems we are going to the playoffs!!

[CatfishJohn]

08:55 PM on 04/14/2012

Harlem Globetrotters used to play a team of stiffs that was comedically bad on an intentional basis- The Washington Generals. These Washington Wizards are and have been for many seasons comedically bad -- but unintentionally.

[JohnHopwood2]

07:26 PM on 04/14/2012

Knicks played okay but they aren't that great. The Wizards had a really bad game as opposed to tthe Knicks having a really good game. Knicks made some awful passes and shot selections.

[KOSSNC]

06:33 PM on 04/14/2012

I was hoping they would finish 9th so they would be in the Lottery.

[magic215]

02:21 AM on 04/15/2012

they been in the lottery 4times since the Gilbert trade maybe they need some front office work! if you are talking about the wizzards!!

[patrickjkiger]

05:49 PM on 04/14/2012

When Knicks fans get off on taunting a bad team, they just look foolish. Their team is 31-28 and tied for 7th place in the East, two games ahead of the ninth-place Bucks with five to go. The likelihood is that they make the playoffs, just barely, and then get beat to a pulp by either Miami or Chicago. As for the Wizards, sure, they're awful right now, especially since they've got two starters (sf Booker and c Nene) out. They've got a new owner and they're in the process of jettisoning all their holdovers and building a new core of young players around Wall. That's the same plan that worked so well for OKC (though Durant, because of his size and versatility, was a lot easier to build around). They've been competing pretty hard lately, particularly on D, so this huge loss was kind of an outlier for them. I would like to see them keep Randy Whitman, though that probably isnt going to happen.

[Sean Johnson]

05:18 PM on 04/14/2012

Who hasn't humiliated my home team this season? It's a shame that the Buzzards, err, Wizards can't play Charlotte all season long. We'd be in the playoffs if that was the case. Hopefully the ping pong balls bounce in our favor and we can grab Anthony Davis to team with John Wall. Otherwise, I seriously see Wall leaving as soon as his rookie contract is up; which would set us back; again.

[magic215]

02:24 AM on 04/15/2012

no offense Sean do ya blame him!!! losing stunts you professional growth!!!! Hell you might be outta there too if your contract was up!!!

[jubo]

05:03 PM on 04/14/2012

Looooove the D... trench warfare stuff...

What a deep bench we'll have... once STAT joins it.

[Gigity]

04:56 PM on 04/14/2012

I'd love to see a Miami-NY opening series.

[jubo]

04:55 PM on 04/14/2012

Mike Woodson, our MVP.

[Bados]

04:12 PM on 04/14/2012

Coach Woodson needs to get a contract. He's got these guys getting the most out of themselves right not.

All this Melo is the worst player and person on the earth has died down under this coach.

[Banghouse]

06:17 PM on 04/14/2012

Absolutely, the haters are no where to be found.

[magic215]

02:30 AM on 04/15/2012

never bought into that melodrama (sorry) its just Dantonio's style didnt work w/him but you're
right the knicks should give him a shot! Although i know a guy named Phil.....

[hrc04]

04:07 PM on 04/14/2012

Trust me, the Wizards don't need anyone's help embarrassing themselves.

[kingjohn1956]

01:57 PM on 04/14/2012

Come-on now be honest. Have you seen a worse team than that team last night in the NBA this lifetime.

[magic215]

02:32 AM on 04/15/2012

uh charlotte, sacramento, toronto yeah i've just as bad!!!!

[KingGlorious]

01:09 PM on 04/14/2012

Question :

Who do the Knicks want to face in the first round of the playoffs? In the second round?

[Bizmark]

01:31 PM on 04/14/2012

Not the Bulls or Miami.....not w/o Lin and Amare Stoudemire

[Bados]

04:10 PM on 04/14/2012

Not without Lin? LOL Chalmers is begging to play against Lin again. He is probably gonna see if he can continue to pick his pocket at will and hold him to 1-12 this time instead of 1-11.

[jubo]

04:54 PM on 04/14/2012

Odd how the Knicks found new life with him, and now a newer life without him. No?

[magic215]

02:34 AM on 04/15/2012

sorry King cant see them going any further than the 1st round so kinda doesnt matter

[Meerkatx]

12:55 PM on 04/14/2012

The Wizards, the Bobcats, and other teams that are this poor just reinforce that relegation like many worldwide football leagues use is a better answer than just handing the worst teams the top players.