Tim Thomas stepped it up in the fourth quarter as New York stopped a late Bobcats charge and held on for a 91-82 matinee victory. (Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/AP)

Tim Thomas stepped it up in the fourth quarter as New York stopped a late Bobcats charge and held on for a 91-82 matinee victory.

Thomas scored 20 points to lead five New York starters in double figures during Sunday's game.

The Knicks, who this month lost in Charlotte despite 41 points from Jamal Crawford, played without their injured shooting guard this time. Crawford was placed on injured reserve with turf toe of his right foot.

Several Knicks took turns filling in for Crawford, including Allan Houston, who had 16 points. Forward Kurt Thomas had 10 points, center Nazr Mohammed added 16 and point guard Stephon Marbury overcame a poor start to score 14.

Emeka Okafor had 23 points and 15 rebounds for the Bobcats for his 15th straight double-double, the most in a row by a rookie since Shaquille O'Neal had 15 straight for Orlando during the 1992-93 season.

Primoz Brezec scored 13 of his 16 points in the first quarter for the Bobcats, who faded after leading 28-24 and looked set to crumble in the third period, finishing the quarter with almost as many turnovers (five) as baskets (six).

But in the fourth, Steve Smith hit a pair of 3-pointers to cut the Knicks' once 15-point lead to 79-77 with five minutes left. Kurt Thomas then missed an open jumper, but the rebound came right back to the unguarded forward, and the Knicks played the clock down to 3:43 for a finger roll by Tim Thomas. His 3-pointer with 25.1 seconds left secured the win.

Editor: Wing