Stoudemire scores 35 as Knicks top Nets at MSG

Protecting their home was of utmost importance for the Knicks last night, and it wasn't only because the New Jersey Nets have such grandiose plans of taking over New York City someday.

Of more pressing concern for the Knicks is what happens this season, not two years from now, when the Nets expect to move to Brooklyn. And right now everyone around Madison Square Garden realizes that in order for the Knicks to be taken seriously as a possible playoff team, they need to start winning at home.

What happened last night was a good start.

Amar'e Stoudemire scored 22 of his 35 points in the second half, Wilson Chandler had 27 points and 11 rebounds and Raymond Felton added 21 points and 10 assists to lead the Knicks to a 111-100 win.

It's their seventh victory in their last eight games and improved their record to 10-9, marking the first time they've been over .500 this late in the season since Jan. 4, 2005.

"Let me tell you what, whatever type of baby step it is, we'll take it," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We're 10-9. That's reality. We're playing better and we see we can play a lot better than this."

Especially at home, where the Knicks had won only twice in seven games entering last night. And after watching Brook Lopez dominate in the paint in the first half, scoring 21 points en route to a three-point halftime lead for the Nets, another home loss certainly seemed possible for the Knicks.

But D'Antoni implored his team to firm up their defense in the second half, especially stressing the importance of being quicker to double-team Lopez.

Though the Knicks' increased defensive intensity was not reflected in Lopez's final numbers - the talented center still finished with 36 points - it clearly was the reason behind the Nets' sudden inability to get into any offensive flow in the third quarter.

After turning the ball over only three times in the entire first half, the Nets turned it over five times during the first six minutes of the third quarter.

D'Antoni's teams are not noted for defense, but on this night he credited his players for showing defensive intensity in the second half, saying his players showed they understand the difference between ensuring a shooter "feels" you as opposed to simply being in front of him.

"Our defense picking up helped fuel our offense in the third quarter," Felton said. "Once it got going, it started to get fun out there.''

The Knicks finished the third quarter on a 19-6 run, led by six points from Stoudemire, to take a 15-point lead into the fourth. That proved to be too much of a deficit for the Nets, especially after losing point guard Devin Harris to a knee injury midway through the quarter.

As much fun as it is to be over .500 nearly a quarter of the way through the regular season - a year ago they were 4-15 at this point - the Knicks tried their best to temper their excitement, insisting they are a long way from accomplishing their goals.

"I think it's just a matter of us continuing to play, continuing to get better," said Stoudemire, who shot 13-for-22 and had nine rebounds. "We're a work in progress."