Carmelo Anthony Scores 27 in Debut as New York Knicks Beat Bucks 114-108

Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups added 21 in their New York debuts as the Knicks beat the Milwaukee Bucks 114-108.

Anthony went 10-for-25 from the field and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Billups went 12-for-12 from the free throw line as New York raised its record to 29-26. Amar’e Stoudemire added 19 points before fouling out and Toney Douglas scored 23 off the bench for New York.

“I’m never going to forget this moment,” Anthony said in a televised interview. “I’m home.”

The game was the Knicks’ first since yesterday’s 13-player, three-team trade involving the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.

With the sold out Madison Square Garden fans giving the Knicks’ new starting lineup -- Anthony, Stoudemire, Billups, Landry Fields and Ronny Turiaf -- a standing ovation, the pre- game introduction of Anthony was almost completely drowned out by the crowd’s roar.

Dozens of blue and orange No. 7 Anthony jerseys and t- shirts were visible in the stands, and the crowd erupted again when Anthony scored his first two points off an offensive rebound 2 1/2 minutes into the game. Billups followed with a 3- pointer on New York’s next offensive possession.

The Knicks led for most of the game, though they were unable to make sure of the win until the closing moments.

New York raced out to a 20-10 advantage halfway through the first quarter and led 33-24 at the end of the frame.

The Bucks responded in the second, tying the contest at 53 apiece before New York ended the half with a 59-57 lead.

Milwaukee (22-35) moved ahead on a Carlos Delfino 3-pointer to open the third quarter, though New York led for much of the period as Billups scored seven points, giving the Knicks an 86- 79 lead entering the final quarter.

The Bucks remained in reach until Anthony’s fall-away 12- footer with 26.8 seconds remaining gave the Knicks a six-point cushion that forced Milwaukee to begin fouling.

John Salmons led the Bucks with 27 points and seven assists, while center Andrew Bogut added 14 points and 12 rebounds.

To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net.