NBA – Melo jumper saves Knicks; Belinelli key as Hornets stun Mavs

MEMPHIS (NBA) - New York blew a 17-point third-quarter lead at Memphis but Carmelo Anthony saved the day with a game-winning jump shot from 0.5 seconds from the end on Wednesday night.

The Team USA veteran, who had 31 points, scored two of them over Tony Allen and the Knicks then broke up an alley-oop attempt by the Grizzlies at the death to win for the 34th time this season and strengthen their grip on sixth place in the Eastern Conference.

Anthony, who came to the Knicks in a recent trade from Denver, said of Allen: "He had been guarding me close up the whole night.

"I just wanted to get a little bit of space, just something where I could see the basket.
"Once I made a jab move, I got a little bit of space."

Defeat for Memphis has left them in eighth place in the Western Conference and just a game clear of Phoenix.

The top of the Eastern Conference got a little closer with leaders Boston (46-16) falling at home to the Los Angeles Clippers, 108-103.

Chicago (45-18) rolled to a 101-84 victory at Charlotte and are now just one and a half games behind in second place.

In the Clippers' win at Boston, Mo Williams had a game-high 24 points.

Williams was recently acquired in a trade that sent Baron Davis to Cleveland.

Puerto Rico guard Carlos Arroyo made his Boston debut and had four points, two assists, three rebounds and a steal in 15 minutes.

Derrick Rose and Kyle Korver poured in 20 points apiece for Chicago in their victory.

New Orleans edged Dallas 93-92 with Italy's Marco Belinelli coming off the bench to play 40 minutes and score 21 points for the Hornets.

The home side trailed by seven points with 1:13 to go but staged the comeback.

Belinelli drilled four three-pointers.

Jarrett Jack was fouled while attempting a three-pointer with 8.4 seconds to go by Jason Kidd and made all three free-throws for the final score.

Dirk Nowitzki's fade-away jumper at the death was off the mark for Dallas.

Other NBA results: Golden State 90 New Jersey 94, Oklahoma City 110 Philadelphia 105, Utah 96 Toronto 94, Chicago 101 Charlotte 84, Cleveland 90 Milwaukee 110, Indiana 75 Minnesota 101, Detroit 104 San Antonio 111 and Orlando 106 Sacramento 102.

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