Anthony’s last-second shot lifts Knicks (AP)

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP)—Carmelo Anthony(notes) made a 16-footer with less than a
second left as the New York Knicks withstood a late Memphis rally and beat the
Grizzlies 110-108 on Wednesday night.

The winning shot by Anthony, who finished with 31 points, came over Tony
Allen(notes) after Zach Randolph’s(notes) three-point play with 14 seconds remaining pulled
Memphis even at 108.

Memphis had one more chance after Anthony’s basket, but an alley-oop attempt
to Darrell Arthur(notes) was broken up at the basket, giving the Knicks their third
straight win and strengthening their hold on the sixth playoff spot in the
Eastern Conference.

Amare Stoudemire(notes) added 26 points for the Knicks, while Toney Douglas(notes)
finished with 18 points and a career-high 10 assists.

Allen led Memphis with 22 points, missing only one of his eight shots.
Arthur scored 21 points, while Mike Conley(notes) and Randolph contributed 20 apiece.
Randolph grabbed 11 rebounds.

The Knicks won despite 17 turnovers and Memphis’ 33-4 advantage at the free
throw line.

Memphis’ final rally came on 10 unanswered points before Anthony’s jumper
from the wing.

New York led by as many as 17 in the third quarter while shooting nearly 60
percent, but its 6-of-20 shooting and careless ballhandling in the fourth period
allowed Memphis to catch up.

The track meet was on early with New York making 10 of its first 11,
including all four from outside the arc.

The Grizzlies stayed in it with its defense that leads the league in forced
turnovers and steals. Memphis caused 10 Knicks miscues in the first half, nine
of them on steals.

Despite that and a 14-1 advantage at the free throw line, the Grizzlies
still trailed 61-53 at the break as Anthony had 20 points and Stoudemire 16.

New York took control at the opening of the second half. The Knicks were
perfect on their first four shots and pushed the lead to 74-57 before carrying a
96-82 advantage to the fourth.

Arthur opened the final frame with eight straight points, cutting the
Knicks’ lead to 96-90. But a 3-pointer by Shawne Williams(notes) stopped the Memphis
rally, and Anthony’s inside bucket built the advantage back to double digits.

NOTES: The Knicks are 6-3 since the trade that brought Anthony and Chauncey
Billups(notes) to New York. Billups missed his fifth straight game with a left quad
injury. “I think he’s feeling a lot better. He’s not quite ready yet,” Knicks
coach Mike D’Antoni said in his pregame availability. “Just a little bit of
pain. We just want to be very cautious.” As for whether he would be ready for
Thursday’s game at Dallas, D’Antoni replied: “You don’t even know when it’s
going to be. When he’s ready, he’s ready.” The Knicks did have Ronny Turiaf(notes) and
Bill Walker(notes) available after missing several games each with injuries. Memphis G
Jason Williams(notes) sat out with lower back stiffness. The Grizzlies said F Rudy Gay(notes),
who has missed nine straight games with a shoulder injury, will have an MRI on
Monday to see about the healing progress.