Knicks 116, Lakers 107: Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points before leaving with a sprained left ankle midway through the third quarter and host New York rode an early blitz to sink Los Angeles.

Anthony scored 22 points in a scintillating first quarter and the Knicks led by as many as 26 points in the second quarter to win their third straight and remain the league's only unbeaten team at home (9-0).

Raymond Felton scored 19 points and Tyson Chandler and J.R. Smith added 18 apiece as New York improved to 17-5 and handed the reeling Lakers their fourth straight loss and ninth defeat in 12 games. Los Angeles dropped to 9-14, its worst start since opening the 2002-03 season with a 9-15 mark.

Kobe Bryant, who was battling back spasms, had 31 points and 10 rebounds and Metta World Peace sparked a late rally with 10 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point play that cut the deficit to 113-107 with 1:27 to play.

The Knicks played a near-flawless first period behind Anthony, shooting 73.9 percent while committing zero turnovers to take a 41-27 lead. New York kept pouring it on in the second quarter behind its bench, hitting five 3-pointers - two each by Steve Novak and Rasheed Wallace - in a 2 1/2-minute span as the lead ballooned to 58-32 with 7:20 left in the half.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Anthony is day-to-day with a "slight" sprain. Anthony, who fell to the floor after he was fouled by Dwight Howard on a drive to the basket, said his ankle and left knee are sore and added he was unsure if he would be able to play Saturday against Cleveland.. ... Los Angeles has dropped four in a row for the first time since a five-game skid in April 2011. .... Anthony had his eighth 30-point game of the season, the most in the league behind Bryant (12). The Lakers fell to 1-11 when Bryant scores 30 points.