CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Jumaine Jones scored 28 points to help the Charlotte Bobcats beat New York 116-109 on Saturday night and edge ahead of the Knicks in the battle to avoid the worst record in the NBA.

The victory moved the Bobcats to 18-45 and helped them match their win total from last year’s expansion season. New York dropped to 17-44, a humiliating mark for the team with the NBA’s highest payroll at $123 million.

Even though the Knicks came in on a two-game winning streak, they really didn’t put up much of a fight against Charlotte until very late in the game.

Charlotte broke open the game midway through the third quarter with a 14-4 run and went into the fourth up 95-82.

The Bobcats remained in control, building a 106-91 lead. But New York was able to chip into it at the free throw line, which both teams visited often during a sloppy game that featured a combined 62 fouls.

Steve Francis, Jalen Rose and David Lee hit on six straight, then Francis scored on a reverse follow slam to cut the Bobcats’ lead to 108-101 with 2:44 to go. Francis followed it with a wide-open layup under the basket that pulled New York within five.

Primoz Brezec made one free throw for Charlotte, then Rose scored on a short jumper and, after Raymond Felton’s turnover, Francis converted a fast-break dunk to cut it to 109-107 with 1:13 to go.

Brevin Knight scored out of a timeout for the Bobcats, then Stephon Marbury missed at the other end for New York. Jones got the rebound, was fouled, and made both free throws to make it 113-107 with 38 seconds left.

The game was sealed moments later when Marbury fell down while dribbling and fouled Bernard Robinson as the two wrestled for the loose ball. Robinson made one of two to put Charlotte up by seven and force the Knicks to foul after every possession.

Felton scored 20 points for Charlotte, Brezec had 18 and Gerald Wallace had 16 points and 12 rebounds.

Rose led the Knicks with 23 points. Eddy Curry scored 19, Marbury had 18 and Francis finished with 16 off the bench.

Notes: The Bobcats sold out a home game for just the fifth time this season. … Both coaches delayed their pregame press conferences to watch the closing minutes of Boston College’s victory over North Carolina. “Almost had it,” Larry Brown sighed of his alma mater’s 85-82 loss. … Rose was assessed a technical while sitting on the bench in the second quarter for yelling at an official. … Bobcats guard Kareem Rush missed the game with a stomach virus. … The Bobcats offered fans a chance to vote on a new nickname for Wallace, and “G-Force” was the winning selection.

AP-ES-03-11-06 2228EST