NEW YORK (AP) – With the Knicks shooting 70 percent in the first quarter, this one was over quick. For the Chicago Bulls, the outcome was predictable.

Latrell Sprewell scored 22 points, Marcus Camby had 19 and Kurt Thomas 18 as the Knicks shot a season-high 62 percent and handed the Chicago Bulls their 20th straight road loss, 101-80 Saturday night.

"I don't think anybody expected that," Sprewell said. "That was a great job of moving the ball and guys knocking down open shots. But when you're shooting 70 percent, you would like to be up at least 30."

Camby, who shot 8-for-9 from the field, and Thomas who was 8-for-11, each went 4-for-5 in the first quarter as the Knicks took a 33-22 lead.

"I only got four shots in the last game, so I wanted to come out and be more assertive," Camby said. "The game is definitely easy when you're making your shots."

The Knicks' previous best from the field was the 58 percent they shot against Minnesota on December 2.

After Ron Mercer's basket with 5:45 left in the first quarter gave the Bulls an 18-13 lead, the Knicks went on a 44-11 run over the next 12 minutes. Their 57-29 lead with 5:57 left in the second quarter was their largest of the game.

"I really liked the way we played during that stretch," said Jeff Van Gundy. "I never judge a win on who we play but rather on how we play and I felt we played really well."

Although the Bulls managed to end the half on a 12-2 run, they still allowed the Knicks to shoot 71 percent from the field and score a season-high 61 points at the break. Chicago's first half possessions included one with two airballs and one with a blown three-on-one.

"It (the road losing streak) is definitely frustrating," Ron Artest said. "Realistically we could've won 12-15 more games this year with experience, which we don't have yet."

Brad Miller's basket to start the fourth quarter brought the Bulls within 13 points, 78-65, but that was as close as they got the rest of the way.

"They came out on fire and they were just hitting," Miller said. "We knew it was going to be tough because we just beat them two weeks ago at our place and you knew they were going to remember."

The Knicks' win helped atone for their 81-72 loss in Chicago on March 2. The Bulls have won only one of eight games since then, a 87-74 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 6.

Allan Houston and Charlie Ward each had 10 points as the Knicks won for the eighth straight time at home and for the fourth straight time overall.

Mercer scored 18 points, Artest had 16 and Miller added 15 for the Bulls. Elton Brand missed his second straight game with a sore knee.

Game notes
Glen Rice missed the game because of a stomach virus ... Sprewell's nine assists tied a season-high ... Miller's 16 rebounds were a career-high.

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 The Chicago Bulls had a little trouble passing against the Knicks.
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