Kemba Walker scored 25 points, Gerald Henderson added 18 and the Charlotte Bobcats held off a late run by New York to beat the Knicks 102-97 on Tuesday night.
Charlotte led by 13 in the third quarter before New York cut it to two points late in the game. Henderson hit two free throws with 13 seconds left and Walker one seven seconds later to seal the victory.
Carmelo Anthony scored 32 points to lead the Knicks, but was 10 for 28 from the field. His back-to-back baskets late in the fourth quarter twice brought the Knicks within two, but every attempt that the Knicks had to take the lead failed.
New York lost starting center Tyson Chandler midway through the first quarter with a right knee injury.
With 16 seconds left, Anthony hit a 3-pointer to get the Knicks within 99-96. After a Bobcats turnover, Iman Shumpert was fouled but made only one of two free throws. Henderson then hit his two free throws and the Knicks never got closer.
The Bobcats (2-2) are off to their best start since the 2009-10 season, while the Knicks (1-3) are off to their worst start since that same season.
The Bobcats took their biggest lead of the game, 69-56, on Michael Kidd-Gilchrist's two free throws with 9:50 left in the third quarter. The Knicks whittled the lead to four, 76-72, on Raymond Felton's jumper with 3:11 left in the third.
Sports
Charlotte got its lead back up to eight points before settling for an 82-76 advantage after three quarters.
The Bobcats opened a 10-point lead, 49-39, on two Ramon Session free throws with 7:10 left in the first half. However, Metta World Peace, who finished with 18 points, scored the Knicks next seven points.
Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 16 points for the Bobcats.
Felton and Shumpert each had 14 for the Knicks.
