Taylor fills in with 20, Bobcats

First Posted:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jeffery Taylor matched a career high with 20 points, leading six Charlotte scorers in double figures, and the Bobcats beat the Philadelphia 76ers 105-88 on Friday night.

Subbing for injured starter Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at small forward, Taylor scored nine of Charlotte’s first 22 points. Gerald Henderson and Kemba Walker added 18 apiece, and Walker also dished out a season-high 10 assists.

Al Jefferson had 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Bobcats. Ramon Sessions added 13 points and rookie Cody Zeller chipped in with 10.

Philadelphia was led by Tony Wroten’s 21 points. Evan Turner added 16, Hollis Thompson scored 12 and Spencer Hawes had 10 points and 13 rebounds.

The Sixers played without starting point guard Michael Carter-Williams, who came in averaging 17.7 points. The rookie sat out because of a sore right knee.

Knicks 121, Magic 83

NEW YORK— Carmelo Anthony had 20 points and 11 rebounds, and the New York Knicks snapped a seven-game home losing streak by beating the Orlando Magic 121-83 on Friday night for their first victory at Madison Square Garden since October.

Andrea Bargnani and J.R. Smith each added 17 points for the Knicks, who followed their 113-83 rout of Brooklyn on Thursday with an even more powerful performance, giving them consecutive victories for the first time this season after a nine-game losing streak.

The Knicks hadn’t won at home since beating Milwaukee in their season opener on Oct. 30. The seven-game skid had matched the longest in franchise history, set during the 2007-08 season.