Knicks hold off Magic 99-89 to move to 5-0
Orlando Magic’s J.J. Redick (7) goes up for a shot between New York Knicks’ Steve Novak (16) and Rasheed Wallace, left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012, in Orlando, Fla. AP/John Raoux
ORLANDO, Florida — Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points, J. R. Smith and Raymond Felton each added 21 as the New York Knicks held off the Orlando Magic 99-89 Tuesday night to remain the NBA’s only unbeaten team.
J.J. Redick led Orlando with 18 points, with Arron Afflalo scored 13 for a Magic team that was stunted by 20 turnovers that led to 24 New York points.
The Magic dropped their fifth consecutive game and continue to struggle without starters Jameer Nelson and Hedo Turkoglu.
New York has won its first five matches of the season for the first time since opening the 1993-94 season with seven victories.
In other matches Tuesday, the Bobcats had a 92-76 win over the Wizards, the Raptors edged the Pacers 74-72 and the Nets bea the Cavaliers 114-101.
At Charlotte, Ramon Sessions scored 21 points as the Bobcats beat winless Washington to get back-to-back victories for the first time since last December.
Rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist chipped in with 15 points and eight rebounds before leaving in the fourth quarter with a sore back.
Trevor Ariza scored 19 points for the Wizards, who fell to 0-6.
At Indianapolis, DeMar DeRozan scored 15 points and Jose Calderon had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for Toronto.
Toronto led 69-58 heading into the fourth and hit only one field goal the rest of the way, a club low.
George Hill scored 18 points and Paul George had 12 points and nine rebounds to lead the Pacers, who have lost four of the last five.
Brooklyn posted its third consecutive win with Deron Williams contributing 26 points and 10 assists and Joe Johnson scoring 25 points against travel-weary Cleveland.
Brook Lopez added 23 points for the Nets, who opened a 20-point lead at home for the third straight game, but this time barely let up and beat the Cavaliers for the sixth time in eight meetings after losing nine in a row, mostly during the LeBron James era.
Anderson Varejao scored a career-high 35 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who were wrapping up a six-game, coast-to-coast trip and played much of the game with the urgency of a team that wanted to be home.
