NBA Game Summary - New York at Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Nerlens Noel scored a career-high 23 points and added 14 rebounds, five steals and three blocks in the Philadelphia 76ers' 97-81 win over the New York Knicks.

With 15 points and nine assists from Ish Smith, 14 points from Luc Mbah a Moute and 12 from Isaiah Canaan, Philadelphia won two games in a row for the first time since Jan. 28-30 and ended a four-game losing streak against the Knicks.

Alexey Shved scored a career-high himself with 25 points for the Knicks, who lost for the fourth time in five games. Andrea Bargnani contributed 17, and Shane Larkin had 13.

Noel, whose previous career high in points was 19, got off to a fast start in the first quarter. He finished with 12 points, and the 76ers led 29-23 after 12 minutes. Smith contributed six points and five assists, four of which came on buckets by Noel.

"I think Nerlens had more of a concentrated effort to run plays for himself," said 76ers coach Brett Brown. "He wanted the ball, and we got him the ball."

Philadelphia led by double digits for much of the second quarter, but the Knicks threatened with a late spurt. Larkin scored five points in a 7-0 run, but Smith connected with Noel on an alley-oop to close the half with the Sixers leading 54-48.

The Knicks committed seven turnovers in the third quarter, leading to eight points for Philadelphia. New York was within four before a a 13-3 Sixers run, capped by Noel's three-point play, made it a 72-58 game. They led 80-66 after three.

New York could not get closer than 13 in the final quarter, and the 76ers built their largest lead of the game in the closing minutes when Smith finished back-to-back possessions with layups.

"They were more aggressive than we were," Shved said. "They just played better."