New York Knicks’ Kristaps Porzingis, center, celebrates with team mates during the first half of a NBA basketball game against Sacramento Kings at Madison Square Garden in New York. AP
NEW YORK — Kristaps Porzingis returned after a one-game absence to score 34 points, Courtney Lee added 20, and the New York Knicks beat the Sacramento Kings 118-91 on Saturday (Sunday Manila time).
Enes Kanter had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won four straight at Madison Square Garden. New York led by as many as 33 points in the fourth quarter.
Skal Labissiere scored 19 points and Buddy Hield chipped in 17 for the Kings, whose two-game winning streak was snapped.
Porzingis missed Wednesday night’s loss at Orlando with ankle and elbow injuries.
The Kings got within one point on three occasions in the second quarter, the last coming with 6:54 remaining when Hield’s jumper made it 43-42. New York then took off on a 21-7 run, capped by four straight points from Porzingis, and led 64-49 at halftime.
The 22-year-old Porzingis, who entered play as the NBA’s second-leading scorer, went 11 of 21 from the field, including 3-for-4 from 3-point range. He strung together six straight points to put the Knicks ahead 74-53 with 8:38 left in the third quarter as fans serenaded him with “MVP” chants.
He went to the bench for the night with the Knicks leading 88-60 late in the third.
New York started out slowly, missing five straight shots and turning the ball over twice as the Kings jumped out to a 10-0 lead.
The Knicks closed out the opening period on a 32-13 run, highlighted by 16 points from Porzingis, including a personal 8-0 run.
TIP-INS
Sacramento is 1-6 on the road, its only win coming on Oct. 20 at Dallas.
The Kings have lost three straight to the Knicks. They last beat New York on March 20 of last year.