[img]http://www.mb.com.ph/sites/default/files/carmelo%20anthony_1.jpg[/img] INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Carmelo Anthony scored 34 points, making the go-ahead jumper with 4.9 seconds left and blocking a potential winning attempt, helping the New York Knicks beat the Indiana Pacers 110-109 on Sunday night for their seventh straight win.
Chauncey Billups had 21 points and seven assists, and Toney Douglas scored 14 for the Knicks (42-38), who moved a game ahead of idle Philadelphia for the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff chase.
Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle. Coach Mike D'Antoni said he could return Tuesday against Chicago.
Danny Granger had 20 points and Roy Hibbert added 19 points and 10 rebounds for Indiana (37-44). The Pacers are locked into the No. 8 seed and will play Chicago in the opening round of the playoffs.
New York, which trailed by 11 early in the fourth quarter, used a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 98-97. Granger's 3-pointer and Josh McRoberts' runner stopped the spurt and helped Indiana regain the momentum.
The Pacers extended their advantage to 109-103 with 3:31 left, but the Knicks scored the next five points, including Landry Fields' dunk with 39 seconds left, to get within 109-108.
After Darren Collison missed a jumper on the Pacers' ensuing possession, the Knicks got the ball back with 13 seconds remaining. Anthony got the ball, made a couple moves and fired a 19-footer over Granger's outstretched hand.
Granger tried to give Indiana the win with time running out, but Anthony got a piece of his jumper. Collison caught the ball in the air and missed a shot of his own. Mike Dunleavy missed a tip at the buzzer, although it may have been too late, anyway.
The Pacers, who trailed by six at halftime, outscored New York 35-20 in the third quarter to open a nine-point lead. Hibbert's jumper gave Indiana a 93-87 advantage and A.J. Price's 3-pointer at the buzzer made it 96-87.