NY Knicks edge Chicago Bulls to spoil Rose's return Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks (R) and Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls (L) ...

NY Knicks edge Chicago Bulls to spoil Rose's return

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks (R) and Luol Deng of the Chicago Bulls (L) during their game on April 8. Anthony scored the game winning three pointer with 8.2 seconds left in overtime to lift the Knicks to a 100-99 win. (AFP Photo/Chris Trotman)

Carmelo Anthony scored the game winning three pointer with 8.2 seconds left in overtime to lift the New York Knicks to a 100-99 win over the Chicago Bulls.

Anthony finished on Sunday with a season-high 43 points for the Knicks who blew a 21-point first quarter lead then had to rally from a 10-point deficit late in the game at Madison Square Garden.

"It was a great atmosphere. That's how the Garden is supposed to be," said Anthony after the win.

"This was a playoff type game. We might play these guys in the playoffs if we keep going and getting that seed. So, this was a big statement game for us -- a big win today."

The Knicks victory spoiled the return of Bulls star Derrick Rose who finished with 29 points after missing a dozen games with a sore groin.

Anthony shot 16-of-31 from the field and made four-of-five free throws. He drained a three pointer with 11 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

Rose had a chance to win it for the Bulls but his shot at the buzzer hit the rim and stayed out.

Iman Shumpert finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, while Tyson Chandler had 16 rebounds for New York, who have won two games in a row.

Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Eastern Conference- leading Bulls, who have lost three of their last four games.

Rose had not played since March 12 when Chicago faced the same Knicks. He struggled at times in his return shooting just eight-of-26 from the field. He also had eight turnovers.

The Knicks were playing without injured starter Jeremy Lin who had surgery on Monday to repair a torn cartilage in his left knee.

Lin said before the game his recovery is going well and he doesn't expect to return sooner than the six weeks the club announced immediately following the operation.

Lin also said he hopes to begin running next week.

(Agencies)