NEW YORK -- Theres little margin for error, and the New York Knicks know it. Ivan Rakitic Barcelona Jersey . They need a big finish to the regular season, and after the way theyve started the last two games, maybe they have one in them. Carmelo Anthony scored 18 of his 29 points in the first quarter, sending the Knicks to a rare easy night in a 108-81 victory over the Utah Jazz on Friday. With a long way to go to get back into playoff position, the Knicks won their second straight following a seven-game losing streak. They began a favourable portion of their schedule by opening an early double-digit lead and remaining comfortably ahead the rest of the way. They scored 39 points in the first quarter, their best in any period this season, after scoring 38 in the opening 12 minutes at Minnesota on Wednesday. "Last two games is, we had no choice," coach Mike Woodson said. "Time is somewhat running out and every game is important." Anthony added a season-high eight assists while playing just three quarters of a game that wasnt competitive for long after the opening tip. J.R. Smith had 17 points and Tyson Chandler finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks, who led by as many as 32. "We can either cave in and let teams beat the hell out of us, or we can come out there fighting," Smith said. "Thankfully we are coming out here fighting and it starts on the defensive end." Amare Stoudemire, who has moved into the starting lineup along with Smith, scored 10 for the Knicks. They visit Cleveland on Saturday to play one of the teams in between them and Atlanta, which currently holds the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. New York entered play 5 1/2 games behind the Hawks. The losing has wrecked Anthonys hopes of putting off discussion about his free-agency plans until after the season. His brief postgame questions were focused on reports that Chicagos Joakim Noah talked to him about joining the Bulls, and that the Knicks had spoken to Phil Jackson about a role in the organizations management. "Its going to be more stories coming out, more speculation, everybodys going to have their own take on different stories, so for me Ive got to focus on playing ball and thats it," Anthony said. He did it well Friday, despite battling a cold. Anthony scored New Yorks final 11 points in the first quarter, with a four-point play and another 3-pointer in the final 38 seconds as the Knicks opened a 39-22 lead on 70 per cent shooting. New York stretched the lead to 21 late in the second quarter and was ahead 60-41 at halftime. New York is 23-40 but still has playoff aspirations due to all the weak competition at the bottom of the East. The Knicks upcoming schedule gives them hope, with games against Philadelphia, Boston and Milwaukee, all among the NBAs worst teams, next week. They had no trouble with the Jazz, another lowly squad that lost to the Knicks for the fifth straight time. Gordon Hayward and Alec Burks each scored 18 for the Jazz, who dropped their fifth straight and fell to 0-5 on their six-game, nine-day trip that ends Saturday in Philadelphia. "I thought for two or three months weve played pretty steady basketball, right around .500 basketball. For us that was a step in the right direction," forward Richard Jefferson said. "Now were at the end of the season, youve got a lot of guys playing minutes that theyve never played before. We can see fatigue, frustration. A lot of things are coming into play, but youve got to stick with it." NOTES: The Knicks will take part in a news conference Monday at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, N.Y., with county and NBA Development League officials to discuss their plans to bring a franchise to Westchester. ... Blown out in Chicago on ABC last Sunday, the Knicks had their April 13 rematch with the Bulls in New York booted off the network Friday. It will become a 7:30 p.m. start with no national TV coverage, while Oklahoma City at Indiana was moved to the 1 p.m. spot. ... Utahs trip is the longest by days since early in the 2003-04 season. Jasper Cillessen Jersey . Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Shawn Marion had 22 and the Mavericks beat undermanned Philadelphia 124-112 Friday night, handing the 76ers their 10th straight loss. Barcelona Jerseys .ca. Kerry, In Mondays Habs/Bruins game, there were three questionable/brutal calls against the Habs late in the game - Tomas Plekanec, then Douglas Murray, then Brendan Gallagher. http://www.barcelonafcteamshop.us/Gerard-Pique-Barcelona-Jersey/ . CNN and Gazzetta dello Sport reporter Tancredi Palmeri broke the news via Twitter Tuesday afternoon. Italian Football Association President Giancarlo Abete has also resigned, according to Palmeri.With the NHL Draft coming up on June 27 and free agency opening on July 1, discussions between NHL general managers are heating up towards a busy off-season. Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Duck Calling With several marquee centres available via trade and expected to be available via free agency, the Anaheim Ducks could be primed to be big players in the coming days. According to The Orange County Register, the Ducks could be in on any number of big name middle-men on both markets. With two first-rounders - 10th and 24th overall in Fridays draft courtesy of the Bobby Ryan trade - and a host of young roster talent, the Registers Eric Stephens identifies Ryan Kesler, Jason Spezza, Paul Stastny, Eric Staal and even California rival Joe Thornton as possible targets for the Ducks. Out for Number 1? TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger appeared on TSN 1050s Mike Richards in the Morning on Tuesday and stated that the Florida Panthers are still taking calls on the first overall pick in Fridays draft. Dreger said that all reports at this point indicate that the number one pick is definitely in play and that Panthers GM Dale Tallon has indicated that the team would n0t be willing to go below eighth overall on the draft board. It is worth noting that the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames, Vancouver Canucks and Toronto Maple Leafs all fit within that range. Plan Bs The Boston Bruins are planning for the off-season under two possible scenarios: with or without Jarome p;Iginla. Gerard Pique Barcelona Jersey. . According to the Boston Herald, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is weighing out his options in both scenarios. While the team would love to bring him back, his 30 goal-season will make him an expensive option to retain and the team is also penalized by the bonuses he earned last season (upwards of $4 million) that will be taken out of this seasons cap. "There will be hard choices, but it may be that we dont make hard choices and we keep as many people as we can and we go into the year and maybe we do make those hard choices as the year progresses," Chiarelli told the Herald. "It may be that all these things happen at training camp, it may be that all these things happen in November. . . . I think a lot of people think that these hard choices get made July 1. Choices do get made July 1, it may be that we cant sign Jarome, it may be that we go in a different direction, it may be that we cant sign Player X or Player Y." On the Wing After dealing Scott Hartnell to the Columbus Blue Jackets, new Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall will be on the lookout for options at left wing. Philly.coms Sam Carchidi speculates that Hextall will look to fill that vacancy via free agency. Candidates floated to fill out the forward ranks include free agents Mike Cammalleri, Matt Moulson, Benoit Pouliot or Toronto Maple Leafs winger Mason Raymond. Hextall wouldnt close the door on more deals, though, telling Carchidi: "Well keep our ear to the phone and see whats out there." Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap Jerseys Online Stitched Jerseys Wholesale Throwback Jerseys Jerseys NFL Cheap Wholesale NFL Hoodies ' ' '