Bobcats, Knicks battle at MSG

New York is 1-1 on the homestand and defeated Utah, 97-96, in overtime on Monday night. Stephon Marbury was the hero with the game-winning layup as time expired. He ended with 29 points and eight assists as the Knicks followed one of their ugliest events in franchise history with one of their best wins of the season. The Knicks were involved in a melee with the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.

David Lee ended with 17 points and a career-high 20 rebounds for the Knicks, who ended a two-game slide. Jamal Crawford added 18 points and Channing Frye had 10 points and 10 boards for New York, which had just eight players available because of the suspensions that were handed down on Monday as a result of the incident.

New York’s Nate Robinson got a 10-game suspension, while Mardy Collins was suspended for six games and teammate Jared Jeffries was given a four-game penalty. Jerome James was suspended one game for leaving the bench during the altercation.

Meanwhile, the Bobcats have lost five of six games, including Saturday’s 106-100 loss to the Boston Celtics. Gerald Wallace netted a season-high 31 points for the Bobcats, who again failed to win back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Raymond Felton and Adam Morrison both scored 16 points, while Emeka Okafor posted 12 points, a season-high 19 rebounds and matched his franchise-record with eight blocked shots.

The Knicks are 4-10 at home and will host Chicago on Friday.

Charlotte has won three straight and four of the seven meetings with New York.