The Knicks have been able to rectify two problems this year — they are beating teams they should be beating and winning matinee home games.
They did both yesterday as they disposed of the also-ran Suns, 106-99.
The Knicks were able to overcome the noon start and jump on the Suns early en route to a 59-42 halftime lead. Phoenix battled back, as almost all teams do, cutting the deficit to as little as four in the waning moments of the fourth quarter, but the Knicks’ veteran leadership and key buckets by Anthony, Raymond Felton and Steve Novak were too much for the overmatched Suns.
Felton notched 23 points, on 10-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range. He also added seven assists but was more disappointed in allowing the Suns back into the game.
“We should’ve finished it early in the fourth quarter, but they kept fighting and making shots,” Felton said. “But we were able to hold them off. … Good teams do that.”
Whereas in the past the Knicks often lost either their focus or competitive fire against one of the league’s bottom feeders, their maturity this season has allowed them to do what good teams do — beat up on the undermanned.
New York is now up in the Atlantic Division by a full game over their new cross-river rival Nets, as they improved to 6-0 at home.
Follow Knicks beat writer Tony Williams on Twitter @TBone8.
