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NEW YORK -- This time, Carmelo Anthony didnt have to hit the game-winning shot, but he did need help from his teammates.Anthony scored 29 points, Derrick Rose had 24 and Kyle OQuinn added season highs of 20 points and 13 rebounds as the New York Knicks defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 118-114 on Friday night.After hitting the game-winner in the Knicks two-point win over the Timberwolves on Wednesday, Anthony saw OQuinn and Rose carry a heavy load down the stretch.You dont want to have to do that every night, Anthony said. Derrick did a good job of getting the ball in his hands and making plays and creating. Tonight was his night to make shots.After the Knicks fell behind for the first time in the game, 102-101, on Zach LaVines dunk with 6:33 remaining, OQuinn got the lead back with consecutive baskets, and after Minnesota got within one, Rose scored the next five points to give New York a 110-104 lead.Andrew Wiggins converted a layup with 2:11 left, but Anthony answered with a dunk off of a full court pass from OQuinn to make the score 112-106.Quinn was starting in place of the injured Joakim Noah.Obviously, I have a chip on my shoulder. I wanna have more for myself, OQuinn said. I just put it out there all I can.Rose made two free throws with 31 seconds left for a 114-106 lead and the Timberwolves got no closer than four the rest of the way.I was taking what they were giving. It was all about rhythm, said Rose, who finished 9-for-15 from the field.Minnesota trailed 98-88 after three quarters, but went on a 12-2 run to start the fourth, aided by five Knick turnovers in the first four minutes. They eventually grabbed the lead, but it was short-lived.Weve got to change our mindset, said Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau. I thought the start of the game really hurt us. I thought our bench came in and gave a good lift. They did it again in the second half, but then we made a lot of mistakes down the stretch.The Knicks jumped out to a 24-8 lead to start the game. The Timberwolves were able to pull within nine after the first quarter, 30-21, and got as close as four, 34-30, on Nemanja Bjelicas 3-pointer with 9:06 left in the second quarter.New York took a 62-52 lead at halftime and led by as many as 14, 80-66, before settling for the 10-point lead after three.Justin Holiday finished with 13 points for the Knicks and Kristaps Porzingis had 11.LaVine scored 24 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 20 for the Timberwolves.Wiggins scored 19 points, Bjelica finished with 17, Shabazz Muhammad had 14, and Cole Aldrich posted a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds.TIP-INS:Timberwolves: Minnesota has faced the Knicks in each its last two games, the only time they will play the same team in consecutive games all season. They did play back-to-back against Los Angeles on November 12 and 13, but that was against the Clippers and Lakers, respectively.Knicks: New York is now one game over .500 for the second time this season. They have not been two games over .500 since Nov. 21 last season.SWEPT AWAYThe Timberwolves have been swept by the Knicks in each of the past two seasons (4-0). Minnesotas last win in the series was a 95-92 overtime victory on March 19, 2015.LEFT OUTCourtney Lee and Joakim Noah were inactive for the Knicks due to injuries to their left ankles. Lee had started the Knicks first 18 games, while Noah has now missed two games due to the ankle and four overall. However, Lance Thomas, who had missed the previous nine games due to a left ankle injury, returned to action for the first time since November 12.OQUINN OKAYOQuinn made all five of his field goal attempts in the first half and finished 9-of-11 overall.UP NEXT:Timberwolves: Visit Charlotte on Saturday, the final meeting of the season between the two teams. Charlotte head coach Steve Clifford and Thibodeau were assistants together under Jeff Van Gundy with the Knicks (2001-03) and Rockets (2004-07).Knicks: Host Sacramento on Sunday. The teams will meet again five days later, December 9, in Sacramento. The Kings have beaten the Knicks four straight times. . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. . Roman Josi had a goal and an assist to lead the Predators to a 4-1 victory over the Dallas Stars on Monday night. . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. TORONTO -- New York manager Joe Girardi said he walked out of Fridays post-game media session because he was upset by questions about his bullpen usage, not because the slumping Yankees lost ground in the AL wild card race and were eliminated from the AL East.Thats a sign of some of the questions I was asked, Girardi said before Saturdays game. Theres some things I dont like. If I dont like it, Im not going to deal with it, bottom line.The Yankees lost 9-0 in Toronto on Friday, their ninth defeat in 12 games following a seven-game winning streak. Girardi got up and angrily walked out after being pressed on his decision to use right-hander Blake Parker in the seventh inning with his team trailing 3-0. Toronto scored four runns in one-third of an inning against Parker to blow the game open.ddddddddddddGirardi denied his move was a sign he didnt believe the Yankees still had a chance to make the playoffs.Im trying to win the game, Girardi said. Parker has gotten some big outs for us. It wasnt like I went to someone who didnt have any experience. To insinuate that Ive quit is ridiculous. I never quit.New York began Saturday four games behind Detroit for the second wild card spot with nine games remaining.Third baseman Chase Headley (back) and first baseman Mark Teixeira (neck) were not in the starting lineup Saturday. ' ' '
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