{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
National Basketball Association
New York 128, Phoenix 97
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Where: Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona
Officials: #56 Mark Ayotte, #19 James Capers, #21 Dedric Taylor
Attendance: 17105

PHOENIX -- Sasha Vujacic and Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points each, and the New York Knicks hit 16 of 24 3-pointers in a 128-97 rout of the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night.

Vujacic, starting for the first time since Nov. 10 in place of Arron Afflalo (right abdominal strain), hit six of seven 3-pointers. The point total was his season high, and it came within two points of his career high.

Derrick Williams had all 18 of his points in the fourth quarter, and Robin Lopez and Kristaps Porzingis added 13 points each for the Knicks, who led by as many as 36 points.

New York (27-39) won for just the fifth time in the past 22 games and for just the second time in the past 12 road games.

Devin Booker scored a game-high 32 points for the Suns, who missed a chance at posting their second three-game winning streak of the season. Alex Len added 14 points and 10 rebounds for Phoenix (17-47).

The Knicks jumped out to a quick 15-4 lead six minutes in and held the double-digit lead for the rest of the quarter. Vujacic had nine points, including two 3-pointers in the final 1:04 to give the Knicks a 29-19 lead.

Booker had 10 points in the quarter for Phoenix, hitting four of six shots, but the rest of the Suns were 4-for-11.

New York really poured it on during a 34-point second quarter. Anthony, who hit seven of his first eight shots from the field, had nine points during a 2:18 span and the Knicks outscored the Suns 16-2 to turn a 38-26 lead into a 54-28 lead. Anthony had 12 of his 19 first-half points in the quarter.

The Knicks made 22 of 40 first-half shots from the field and six of seven 3-pointers.

Phoenix trailed by as many as 27 before Booker, who led all scorers with 20 first-half points, had four during a 9-2 run to pull the Suns within 63-43 at the half.

The Suns climbed within 13 points several times in the third quarter, but the Knicks kept hit 3-pointers. They made five of eight in the period, including three more from Vujacic, who was 6-for-6 from behind the arc at that point.

Phoenix was still within 88-75 heading to the fourth quarter, but Jose Calderon and Langston Galloway hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the Knicks scored the first eight points to take control at 96-75. The Knicks scored 40 points in the final quarter, 18 of them by Williams.

NOTES: The game featured the best two free-throw shooting rookies in the NBA. New York F Kristaps Porzingis was leading all rookies at 84.3 percent, and Phoenix G Devin Booker was second at 83.8 percent. ... With the signings of F Chase Budinger and F Alan Williams on Tuesday, the Suns have had 23 different players on their roster this season, matching the total from last year. "I've known Chase a long time," Suns coach Earl Watson said. "He's a veteran, a 3-point threat, and we want him to become more consistent." Williams, who played at UC Santa Barbara, becomes the third Arizona-born player in Suns history, joining Bernard Thompson and Bryce Cotton. ... With his fourth rebound of the game, Suns C Tyson Chandler became the 50th NBA player to grab 9,000 in a career.
Top Game Performances
 
New York   Phoenix
Carmelo Anthony 23 Scoring Devin Booker 32
Jose Calderon 12 Assists Ronnie Price 6
Robin Lopez 8 Rebounds Alex Len 10
Kristaps Porzingis 8 Free Throws Made Alex Len 6
Jose Calderon 2 Steals Ronnie Price 2
Robin Lopez 5 Blocks N/A
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
New York 128 56.1 16-24 20-24 31 43 9 8 11
Phoenix 97 43.8 9-29 10-15 16 38 0 6 11
Upcoming Games
  • Phoenix will play their next game on the road against Denver. The Suns have a W/L % of .278 after a win and .261 after a loss.
  • New York will play their next game on the road against L.A. Clippers. The Knicks have a W/L % of .462 after a win and .375 after a loss.