Knicks top Kings, 106-98 at the Garden, improve to 11-9

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Dec 4, 2016 at 4:52pm PST

The New York Knicks put their fans through another dramatic game. After building a solid 21 points advantage in the second quarter and maintaining the tempo throughout the first 5 minutes of the third, they allowed the Kings to go on a 18-0 run (11 of them being scored from the free throw line) that narrowed the lead to a single point, 72-71.

The Kings, however, never took the lead as the Knicks eventually managed to toughen up and propelled by Brandon Jennings who scored 13 of his total 19 points after the Kings’ run, they sealed another victory on their home court, 106-98.

Carmelo Anthony has found his clutch again and proved once again that he’s the go-to guy in crunch time. Anthony scored a 6-foot jump shot with 34 seconds left on the clock to put the Knicks up 103-96, after he made a defensive rebound off DeMarcus Cousins blocked three point attempt. Melo finished the game with 20 points, alongside Derrick Rose who scored the same, while adding 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

Kristaps Porzingis continues to struggle from behind the arc, going just 1-6 against Sacramento, but logged another double-double game, with 15 points and 14 rebounds. On top of that, he added four more blocks.

Joakim Noah returned to lineup after missing 2 straight games due to an ankle injury, played 25 minutes, scored 2 points, grabbed 5 rebounds and made 5 fouls. Kyle O’Quinn, who replaced Noah in the lineup while he was absent, continues to percolate. O’Quinn finished with 4 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks (including one on Cousins’ three point attempt during the final 30 seconds), in just 14 minutes on the floor.

After missing 9 of the 10 previous games, Lance Thomas scored 9 points off the bench.

Knicks are now for the first time this season 2 games over .500 and will visit the Heat on Tuesday night.