More: "We looked like a team that doesn't have a point guard"
Veteran guard Rip Hamilton exploded for 17 third-quarter points and the Chicago Bulls outlasted the New York Knicks 98-86 on Tuesday night.
The Bulls were without star point guard Derrick Rose, who missed the contest after tweaking his ankle in the team's loss to New York on Sunday. But the Bulls are used to playing without their top scorer, as he missed 12 games recently due to a groin ailment.
Carmelo Anthony carried the offensive load for New York again, finishing with 29 points on 11-19 shooting. The Knicks remain without both guard Jeremy Lin and power forward Amare Stoudemire, who have each been shelved for extended time with their respective injuries.
The loss drops New York to 29-28, although the Knicks maintain their slim lead on Milwaukee for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Those two will square off on Wednesday night in what should be a highly-competitive contest with plenty at stake as the regular season draws nearer to a close.
For more on the Knicks, be sure to check out our blog Posting and Toasting along with SB Nation New York for all the latest updates and news.