Stoudemire Scores 26 In Knicks' 92-79 Win Over Hawks
ATLANTA (AP) Amare Stoudemire scored 26 points, Landry Fields added 15 and the New York Knicks easily beat the Atlanta Hawks 92-79 on Sunday night.
Carmelo Anthony, who was poked in the eye in the first quarter and later hit in the head in the first half, finished with 14 points, his lowest total since New York acquired him in a Feb. 22 trade.
Josh Smith scored 17 and Kirk Hinrich added 15 for Atlanta, which has lost two straight and three of four. The Knicks, who have won two of three, outscored Atlanta 48-30 after the Hawks took a 49-44 lead in the third quarter, including a 19-2 run that extended into the fourth.
Anthony didn't appear hurt by the hits in the head, though he played part of the second quarter and during the second half without his trademark NBA headband.
Anthony, who was 6 for 18 from the field, played only the opening seconds of the fourth quarter as it seemed coach Mike D'Antoni wanted to rest the star forward with the lead growing.
The Knicks hit eight of their last 11 field-goal attempts and kept their composure following a home loss to Cleveland. Injuries kept starting point guard Chauncey Billups (knee) and reserves Ronny Turiaf and Bill Walker sidelined.
Stoudemire was serenaded several times in the third and fourth quarters with chants of "MVP!" by a huge turnout of Knicks fans.
The cheering gained momentum as he hit a pair of free throws midway through the third quarter to put New York up 72-63. It was just as loud when Stoudemire left the game for good in the closing minutes.
Atlanta took its first lead at 45-44 when Smith began the third quarter with a 3-pointer, but there were six lead changes in the period.
Anthony Carter, acquired in the Feb. 22 trade with Denver that brought Anthony and Billups to the Knicks, helped push New York's lead to six at the end of the third.
After stealing the ball from Jeff Teague near midcourt, Carter hit a hesitation floating layup to make it 60-56 before his straightaway 3 with 2 seconds remaining pushed the lead to six.
The Knicks held Hawks center Al Horford to just four points in 40-plus minutes. It was Horford's least productive game since he scored two points in the season opener.
