NEW YORK -- They were bad enough to allow 18 straight points yet still good enough to win.Thats all that matters to the New York Knicks, who ended up on the right side of the scoreboard and found beauty in an ugly game.Its a line drive in the score book, right? coach Jeff Hornacek said.Derrick Rose and Carmelo Anthony each scored 20 points and the Knicks held off the Sacramento Kings 106-98 on Sunday night for their eighth win in 11 games.The Knicks took a 21-point lead in the first half, surrendered an 18-0 run in the third quarter but outplayed the Kings down the stretch to win their third straight overall and improve to 9-3 at home.The main objective and the goal is just to get wins. I dont think nobody cares about stats or anything like that, guard Brandon Jennings said. As long as we win were happy, but weve got to getter. I mean we havent blew anybody out yet, so hopefully we can get a blowout game where other guys can play.Jennings added 19 points and Kristaps Porzingis finished with 15 points and 14 rebounds.DeMarcus Cousins had 36 points and 12 rebounds for the Kings, but shot just 9 for 30 and tired late while playing the entire second half.Coach tried to take me out at the end of the third with like a minute left. I begged him could I stay in, Cousins said. I thought he was going to take me out at the beginning of the fourth but he stayed with me. Just tried to stay aggressive and keep pushing. It was a tough one tonight, but I like our teams effort. I liked that we kept fighting.The Knicks used an 18-4 run to expand a seven-point lead to 48-27 midway through the second quarter and had a 19-point cushion in the third before suddenly sending the Kings to the foul line too much and not scoring at all, as Sacramentos 18-0 run cut it to 72-71 late in the period.Leading by two with just under five minutes left, the Knicks got a 3-pointer by Anthony to start a 7-2 spurt that finally put it away.Sacramento dropped its third straight on its road trip that was shortened to five games after a game in Philadelphia was postponed because of unsafe court conditions.TIP-INSKings: The Kings intentionally fouled Joakim Noah away from the ball twice down the stretch and it worked -- defensively, at least -- as he missed all four free throws. But Sacramento couldnt follow up either time with a basket. ... Sacramento had its four-game winning streak against New York snapped.Knicks: Noah returned after missing two games with a sprained left ankle, but fellow starter Courtney Lee missed his second straight with the same injury. Hornacek said the guard was feeling pretty good but still having trouble moving side to side. ... Anthony left in the first quarter and went to the locker room area for treatment of a cut lower lip.ROUGH NIGHTSAmong the struggling Kings were Kosta Koufos (1 for 7), Matt Barnes (1 for 11) and Arron Afflalo, who went 1 for 4 in his return to New York after playing for the Knicks last season. The Kings shot 32 percent.SEE YOU SOONWhen the Kings finally get home from their road trip, the first team to visit Friday is the Knicks, a team Sacramento coach Dave Joerger believes is on the rise.I think its an exciting time for them, he said. Im not really excited about playing them twice in eight days but I think they look good.UP NEXTKings: Visit Dallas on Wednesday night to end their road trip.Knicks: Visit Miami on Tuesday night. The Knicks snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Heat with a 98-90 victory last Jan. 6 in their last trip to South Florida. Kevin Wyatt Jersey Retro . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. Ray Neal Jersey Retro . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. The 36-year-old American also turned in the top time in Thursdays opening training session. https://www.cheapjerseyslines.com/rod-rutledge-jersey-retro/ . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Bryce Callahan Jersey Retro . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Jim Ritcher Jersey Retro .Y. -- Sabres forward Drew Stafford has witnessed plenty of turmoil during his eight seasons in Buffalo. LYON, France -- Portugal will hold its breath until the last minute hoping its best player at the European Championship will be fit for its semifinal showdown against Wales.No, Cristiano Ronaldo isnt the cause for concern.The fuss is about whether central defender Pepe, who has been key to Portugals place in the final four, will be fit to face Gareth Bale and his Wales teammates on Wednesday at the Stade de Lyon.Portugal coach Fernando Santos said on Tuesday that a decision would be made on match day, based on the state of Pepes recovery from a thigh muscle injury.We will make our decision tomorrow. I wont be rushed into it, so I am sure you will be rolling in your beds tonight unable to sleep, Santos said through a translator. I will sleep quietly, because I have other players who can play. If Pepe is 100 percent, I will think about it so he can be in the starting 11.Pepe missed training on Monday and trained separately from his teammates at their tournament base near Paris on Tuesday before traveling to Lyon.While Portugal has been able to turn to Nani, Ricardo Quaresma and 18-year-old Renato Sanches to get the goals that Ronaldo has yet to consistently produce, its defensive stability has pretty much hinged on Pepe.The Reaal Madrid defender has played every minute of his teams five matches, providing reliability in a backline that has been undermined by injury and inconsistent play.ddddddddddddHe has collected only one yellow card, committed just four fouls -- while receiving 10, in 510 minutes.Santos dropped fellow center back Ricardo Carvalho following a 3-3 draw with Hungary in the third group match, giving Jose Fonte the job. If Pepe is unavailable, Carvalho would likely be back in alongside Fonte.Santos has also switched between Cedric Soares and Vierinha at right back and Eliseu and Raphael Guerreiro at left back.Regardless of whos playing, Portugals backs have struggled to keep up with opposing wingers. Pepe, however, has been there to make last-gasp clearances and to shield goalkeeper Rui Patricio.Bale and Wales attackers will no doubt be aiming to follow the same route.Portugal will already have to cope without holding midfielder William Carvalho, who has played well, due to suspension.We think it is going to be a battle, Fonte said. We are prepared for this and have done our best to play our game tomorrow. ' ' '