NBA: New York Knicks at Houston Rockets
NBA: New York Knicks at Houston Rockets Reuters

Carmelo Anthony recorded 29 points and 16 rebounds and Raymond Felton added 19 points as the New York Knicks defeated the Phoenix Suns 98-96 on Tuesday at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York.

The Knicks punched their 5th consecutive victory this season, after pulling off another gutsy victory against the up-and-coming Suns. Anthony was off to a fast start, but cooled down in the payoff period, though the presence of Felton and Kenyon Martin helped the Knicks withstand the Suns' rally late in the game.

Goran Dragic recorded 28 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists while Miles Plumlee added 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns, who are desperately missing the contribution of Eric Bledsoe (torn meniscus).

Leandro Barbosa, who is currently on a 10-day contract, added 21 points off the bench, but the Suns' 36 percent shooting on the floor proved to be their Achilles heel in the match.

The Knicks, on the other hand, got solid contributions from Amare Stoudemire (9 points and 7 rebounds) and J.R Smith (10 points).

The Knicks improved to 15-22 in the season, while the Suns are still in the playoff picture with a 21-16 record.

ESPN Stats Info: Knicks vs. Suns

MVP: After a torrid start, Carmelo Anthony cooled off faster than a cryogenic chamber, but finished with 29, very belabored points (on 24 shots). But it was Melo's rebounding -- he had 16 on the night -- that proved the true difference.

X factor: Kenyon Martin. Despite finishing with the second-worst plus-minus on the team (-10), K-Mart came up with big play after big play down the stretch -- a putback slam here, a perimeter stop there. Not a bad Tyson Chandler proxy.