Anthony scores 29, Knicks defeat Timberwolves 118-114

Sacramento enters play at 7-12 on the year and in 10th place in the Western Conference.

Strong night for Melo: After missing 46 of his previous 60 shots, Anthony found his stroke Friday.

Having pulled out consecutive wins this week against Karl-Anthony Towns and Minnesota, the Knicks’ string of games against quality National Basketball Association big men will continue on Sunday night against DeMarcus Cousins and Sacramento. Rose has played well for NY thus far, averaging 16.8 points, 4.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds through 19 games.

The Sacramento Kings will have a complete roster against the New York Knicks.

As a team, the New York Knicks are 15 in scoring, 104.2 ppg, and 23 in points allowed at 106.9 ppg.

At 9-9, it’s hard to say whether NY is “building the culture”, but it’s a big step up from their 17-65 record a year ago.

Anthony and O’Quinn combined for 14 of the Knicks’ 32 second-quarter points, helping NY build a 62-52 halftime edge.

And that got them within 10 points of the Knicks, who quickly recouped, reverted to their team-wide assault – 11 Knicks played in the first half – and took a 55-41 lead into the intermission.

After a sluggish first half, Towns erupted for 16 points in the third quarter, but NY maintained a 98-88 lead.

Kristaps Porzingis struggled mightily with his shot, particularly in the first half, when he shot 1-10. He also had two blocks, one of which was on Karl-Anthony Towns in the closing minute.

The Timberwolves quickly cut the lead to 98-93 as the Knicks committed a couple of early turnovers to begin the fourth quarter. The point guard expanded on his thoughts about a possible future with the Knicks after Friday’s 118-114 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

In Wednesday night’s game, Brandon Jennings finished the game with 12 points and 7 assists.

Fortunately for the Knicks, O’Quinn had no intention of squandering one of his few starts of the season. That prompted New York Knicks head coach Jeff Hornacek to bench Derrick Rose for the final 3:58. Joakim Noah is questionable for this game, and if he plays he will not be 100% fully fit – this is something that the Kings have to use to their advantage. Cousins had five points, three at the line.

Rudy Gay added 22 points for Sacramento, which absorbed its 13th loss in 20 outings.

Look no further than the free-throw disparity (31 for Sacramento to 24 for New York). ABOUT THE KNICKS (10-9): NY signed center Joakim Noah to a four-year, $72 million free-agent contract over the summer but is so far receiving a disappointing return on investment that includes averages of four points and 8.1 rebounds in 15 games. After an offseason that saw him traded from his hometown Bulls to the Knicks, plenty of “super team” talk and a civil suit trial that kept him away from the team for most of the preseason, DRose is starting to settle in.