MINNEAPOLIS - In a season full of turmoil for the New York Knicks, Raymond Felton has dealt with more of it than any other player on the team. He struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness early in the season and was arrested on felony gun charges late last month. With all the trouble swirling around him, the point guard was just 7 for 32 in the five games since his arrest. Felton broke out of his slump with 18 points and Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points to help the Knicks snap a seven-game losing streak with a 118-106 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday night. "If youre not there mentally, it can really mess you up," said Felton, who made 5 of 8 shots and also had eight assists and four steals. "But Im not one to make excuses. I got a lot going on, but theres a lot of people in this world that are dealing with a lot. I cant make that excuse." Tyson Chandler had 15 points and 14 rebounds and Amare Stoudemire added 18 points and eight boards for the Knicks, who had not won since beating New Orleans on Feb. 19. Knicks coach Mike Woodson had a long chat with Felton on Tuesday, trying to gauge how focused his point guard was on the court with so much to deal with off it. "I wasnt going to take him out of the lineup, but I wanted to make sure that his head was in the right place for playing," Woodson said. "We just have to continue to help him and get him through this process." Kevin Love had 19 points and eight rebounds, but scored just one point in the second half as the Timberwolves returned from a successful West Coast road trip with a thud. Kevin Martin had 12 points on 3-for-10 shooting and the Wolves were 7 for 26 from 3-point range. "We cant give in and say that this is a killer," Wolves coach Rick Adelman said. "I know everybodys going to say that you cant lose to the Knicks, its a killer. ... We just have to go out and beat Detroit (on Friday). We lost this game. Its not going to be perfect. I dont worry about this being really damaging. I worry about the way we played." Timberwolves coaches had quietly worried about opening a homestand against a team that had been playing so poorly, fearing that the breakout was coming. They were right. The Knicks hit eight of their first 10 field goals Wednesday night and went 5 for 7 from 3-point range to open a 38-24 lead after one quarter. The lead swelled to 17 points in the second quarter as New York chewed up Minnesotas soft interior defence with pick-and-roll lobs to Chandler, a staple of their 54 victories last year. After such a flat first half, Ricky Rubio and the Wolves came alive in the third quarter, methodically carving into the Knicks lead. Nikola Pekovic asserted himself in the paint against Stoudemire and an emboldened Rubio scored nine points in the quarter to cut the deficit to 88-86 going into the fourth. But Pekovic had to sit out most of the fourth quarter because of a minutes restriction placed on him to reduce the wear and tear on a sore ankle that kept him out for most of February. "Its really frustrating because youre trying to win games, youre trying to stay relevant and everything," Adelman said. "He had it going that third quarter. We had it going with him on the floor and I had to take him out. Its just something we have to live with, but its really hard." Anthony and Stoudemire led a 15-2 charge to start the fourth quarter that sealed the victory. Felton hit Tim Hardaway Jr. for a soaring alley-oop moments later for a 107-92 lead. "Even though Im dealing with a lot of stuff off the court, I got a lot to play for right now," Felton said. "I just tried to clear my head tonight, come out and play, and have fun. This is a place where I can come and just be free." NOTES: Pekovic finished with 17 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes and Rubio had 11 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the Wolves. ... New Yorks 66 points were its second-highest first half output of the season. ... J.R. Smith added 14 points, five assists and five rebounds for the Knicks. Cheap NMD For Sale .com) - Eric Fehr and Marcus Johansson each registered a pair of goals, as Washington spoiled the head coaching debut of Peter Horachek by picking up a 6-2 victory in Toronto on Wednesday. Adidas NMD R1 White . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.cheapnmdonline.com/ . This week they discuss the Philadelphia 76ers, Gregg Popovich, Royal and Ancient Golf Club and Bill Belichick. Pharrell NMD Hu China .J. Barea during a three-game shooting slump that was getting him booed off his home court with regularity. Adidas NMD Wholesale China . Wheeler scored two goals, including the winner, as the Winnipeg Jets beat the Minnesota Wild 6-4 on Friday in a game that featured a seven-goal first period.Got a question on rule clarification, comments on rule enforcements or some memorable NHL stories? Kerry wants to answer your emails at cmonref@tsn.ca. Kerry, In the Pittsburgh/New York Islanders game last night, a goal was reviewed in the third period. The referee made no indication of a goal, he just blew the play dead. We assumed that it was no goal because he had intent to blow the whistle, but he didnt signal no goal either. He made no call, just blew the play dead, after the puck crossed the line. There was a gathering of officials, and the war room initiated a review, and called it a goal. The explanation was odd. It said the puck crossed the line legally, but it wasnt a reviewable play. But they did review it, and make a call where the referee didnt. I am confused. Can you clarify this? John Szpala John, You werent the only one that appeared to be confused on the play. The rookie referee that you referred to is gaining experience and learning his trade primarily in the AHL this season. He is also earning his stripes in every NHL game that he is assigned to work. While the AHL is a tremendous training ground for players and officials alike, things happen much more quickly at the NHL level. The speed and skill demonstrated in the best league in the world requires an adjustment and a quick learning curve to take place. Beyond just being a question and answer forum, I am aware that this Cmon Ref column is utilized from time to time as a teaching tool for fans, officials and even players. I sincerely hope our young referee friend learns from his experience in last nights game and in the constructive advice that I am about to offer beyond just answering your question, John. This was clearly a "good goal" that was correctly determined through a lengthy conference with all four officials on the ice. The other three officials on the crew assisted the young referee and provided their perspective when they saw that he was uncertain what had taken place. The expected protocol was handled perfectly in this situation both on the ice and by the Situation Room personnel, who initiated a call following the officials decision to confirm that the puck crossed the line in a legal manner. (No distinct kick, glove, etc. occurred during the crease crash of players from both teams.) The official response from the Situation Room posting reads: At 10:55 of the third period in the Penguins/Islanders game, the Toronto Situation Room initiated a video review because the puck crossed the Penguins goal line. The officials on the ice discussed the play and determined that the puck had crossed the Penguins goal line in a legal fashion. This is not a reviewable play. Good Goal New York Islanders. Now the lesson for the young man in stripes! On a red line dump-in by Matt Donovan of the Islanders, the puck travelled past our young referee as he backed into the zone and came to a resting spot against the end boards to the left of Pens goalie Jeff Zatkoff. Brooks Orpik was the first Penguin on the puck and as he attempted to make a play, a quick forecheck and active stick by John Taveres forced the puck in front of the net.dddddddddddd Kyle Okposo quickly threw the puck at the Penguins net, catching Zatkoff by surprise. The puck rested between the goalies pads and unfrozen as players quickly attacked the goal crease. Pittsburgh defenceman Paul Martin attempted to protect the puck and freeze it under Zatkoffs pads but instead, his stick caused the puck to accelerate and cross the goal line. The puck was clearly in the net before Thomas Vanek crashed the net and pushed Zatkoffs pads into the net. As quickly as these series of events took place, our young ref delayed his movement toward the goal and remained stationary at the sidewall. As the action in the crease intensified, he began drifting slowly toward the goal and was forced to avoid players that stood in his path. By the time the referee arrived in a position behind the net, the puck was visible to him inside of the goal frame but he was uncertain how it had arrived there. His hands in the air were not to waive off a goal but only to signal play stopped. His body language signaled uncertainty and a cry for help. Fortunately, the cavalry arrived in the form of two linesmen that charged to the net to offer their assistance. His referee partner needed to be just as quick on the scene to lend assistance instead of waiting at the refs crease to hold a conference. This is what you need to do the next time a play like this happens, kid. When players attack the net or a goal-mouth scramble results, you should "sprint" toward the net like a starving dog chasing a soup bone to find that puck! I found the best attack angle is just ahead of the goal line so you end up looking into the net and not through the back of players. Whenever you position yourself in the end zone, have your legs in a flexed (knees bent) and ready position to move quickly. Do not stand "stiff-legged" because your reaction time is greatly inhibited. Face the puck squarely, adjust and angle your skates in the direction of the puck as it continually moves about the end zone. In doing so, you are set up to either attack or retreat from the puck location! Finally, dont beat yourself up over this. You are the nameless rookie referee in this column that worked the New York Islander-Pittsburgh Penguins game last night on Long Island. I know how exciting it must be for you to step on the ice with Crosby, Tavares and all those great players. Enjoy each moment of it with every opportunity you are given. See the play quickly and remain in the moment, even if you have to engage in a Gord Miller—"Doc" Emrick style play-by-play in your head as I did on many occasions, to sustain the quick visual pace required at the NHL level. Embrace each experience as part of your learning curve and file it in your memory banks so that everything you do correctly becomes part of your "muscle memory." Above all, have fun doing one of the greatest jobs in the world! Work hard every game to find a better way. Best of luck and have a great career, kid! ' ' '