ATLANTA (AP) — Arron Afflalo and Carmelo Anthony both scored 23 points, and New York almost lost a 16-point lead before holding on to beat Atlanta 107-101 Tuesday night, giving the Knicks their second win over the Hawks in three days.
The Knicks, who have won three of four, also beat the Hawks 117-97 in New York on Sunday.
The Knicks led by 16 in the third quarter but saw the lead reduced to two points in the final minute before Jose Calderon scored on a drive with 18 seconds remaining.
Paul Millsap led Atlanta with 19 points. Jeff Teague had 16.
The undersized Hawks struggled in their matchups with the two 7-footers in New York's lineup, Robin Lopez and rookie Kristaps Porzingis.
Porzingis had 17 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony finished with 11 rebounds and seven assists.
With New York leading 99-95 and less than 2 minutes remaining, players had to be separated after Porzingis and Atlanta's Kent Bazemore battled for a rebound. Following a video review of the altercation, each player was called for a technical foul.
Porzingis made two free throws but Al Horford answered with a 3-pointer to cut the deficit to three. Atlanta's Dennis Schroder made one of two free throws with 40 seconds left.
Calderon's basket pushed the lead to four before Millsap dribbled the ball off his foot and out of bounds.
Afflalo opened the second half with two 3s, giving the Knicks a 60-49 lead and prompting a timeout by Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer.
Less than a minute later, Budenholzer called another timeout following back-to-back baskets by Porzingis and Lopez. Porzingis blocked a shot by Millsap, leading to the jam by Lopez.
Horford had 13 points and 10 rebounds after finishing the first half with only two points.
NEW LOOK FOR NEW YORK
New York's Lou Amundson almost fooled his coach when he shaved his "man bun" ponytail for his first crew cut since he was a freshman at UNLV.
"I barely did recognize him," said coach Derek Fisher, who said the new-look Amundson qualified as the team's "new guy."
"We've added a new member to our team," Fisher said. "So we're good."
Amundson, slowed by lower back spasms, did not play.
TIP-INS
Knicks: Fisher argued when the Knicks were called for a technical foul following their second delay-of-game warning. New York also drew three defensive technicals in the first half. ... Lopez had nine points and eight rebounds. ... Derrick Williams had 15 points.
Hawks: After missing the last two games despite having no announced injury, Schroder had seven points and eight assists as he returned to his normal role as Teague's top backup. Budenholzer said he tried to "build the roster and build the depth" by giving Shelvin Mack more minutes for two games. ... Facing his former New York teammates, Tim Hardaway Jr. made his first appearance since Nov. 28 and had three points.
UP NEXT
Knicks: At Miami on Wednesday.
Hawks: At Philadelphia on Thursday.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/1/360446/afflalo-anthony-lead-knicks-past-hawks-107-101