NEW YORK |
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Knicks clinched their first post-season berth in seven years after a 123-107 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday.
Amar'e Stoudemire scored 28 points, Carmelo Anthony added 25 and the Knicks treated their fans to a return trip to the playoffs, their first since the 2003/04 season.
The team's third win in a row, coupled with Charlotte's loss to the Washington Wizards, secured the post-season berth.
New York, seventh in the Eastern Conference, could be a dark horse in the playoffs after landing Stoudemire as a free agent during the summer then trading for Anthony and Chauncey Billups in a blockbuster February deal.
"I was strong enough to come here when the situation wasn't looking so great," Stoudemire told reporters. "I took it as a challenge upon myself and as a team to speak so boldly at the start of the year (that) the Knicks are back.
"We are now in a position to be in the playoffs, which was the goal."
New York (38-38) stormed to an 11-point lead after the first quarter, behind 17 points from Billups, and never again trailed as they defeated Cleveland for the first time this season and snapped a string of 11 consecutive losses to the Cavaliers.
Billups finished with 23 points.
Cleveland pulled to 93-90 early in the fourth but the Knicks scored 12 points without reply to put the game away.
J.J. Hickson scored a team-high 23 points and Baron Davis had 22 for the NBA-worst Cavaliers (15-61), who have lost three in a row. (Reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
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