76ers 97, Knicks 81: Nerlens Noel scored a season-high 23 points to go along with 14 rebounds, five steals and three blocks as Philadelphia cruised past visiting New York.

Ish Smith added 15 points and nine assists and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute scored 14 points for the 76ers, who moved three games ahead of the Knicks in the race to avoid the Eastern Conference basement. Isaiah Canaan hit four 3-pointers en route to 12 points off the bench for Philadelphia.

Alexey Shved went 7-of-8 from 3-point range and scored 25 points to lead the Knicks. Andrea Bargnani scored nine of his 17 points from the free-throw line and Shane Larkin scored 13 off the bench for New York.

The 76ers got four points apiece from Mbah a Moute and Furkan Aldemir in an 8-0 spurt that put them in front 39-25 early in the second before the Knicks cut it to 54-48 at the break. Noel scored six during a 13-3 run through the middle of the third that stretched Philadelphia’s advantage to 72-58, and it was a 14-point cushion heading into the fourth.

Canaan opened the scoring in the final stanza with a 3-pointer to spread the lead to 83-66 and the Knicks never threatened down the stretch. Noel grabbed five rebounds in the final 3:30 to pick up his 13th double-double as the 76ers put it away.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Noel is the first rookie since Shaquille O’Neal in 1993 to record at least 23 points, nine rebounds, five steals and three blocks. … Knicks F Cleanthony Early (ankle) and G Tim Hardaway Jr. (wrist) each missed their third straight game. … Philadelphia scored 29 points off 20 New York turnovers.