Anthony assured of scoring title over Durant

LOS ANGELES (AFP) –

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks shoots at Madison Square Garden on April 9, 2013 in New York City. Anthony was assured of winning the NBA scoring title Wednesday when the Oklahoma City Thunder said Kevin Durant would sit out their season finale against Milwaukee.

New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was assured of winning the NBA scoring title when Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant sat out the season finale against Milwaukee.

Durant, who led the league in scoring in each of the previous three seasons, trailed Anthony for the scoring title by a fraction of a point going into the final night of the regular season.

Anthony averaged 28.7 points per game and Durant 28.1. Anthony had been on fire in April, averaging at least 37 points per game since April 1.

Fifteen games were on the slate on Wednesday, but both Anthony and Durant were among the many absentees as teams girded for their playoff campaigns.

Oklahoma City, hosting the Bucks, had already secured the top seed in the Western Conference. The Thunder closed the regular season with a 95-89 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Anthony was among the regular Knicks starters who didn’t play against Atlanta, a team of Knicks reserves beating the Hawks 98-92.

Journeyman center Earl Barron, who was signed by the Knicks on Wednesday shortly after veteran Rasheed Wallace announced his retirement, scored 11 points and grabbed 18 rebounds for New York.

James White added 20 points and Iman Shumpert finished with 18, eight assists and seven rebounds.

Although they rested key players, the Knicks saw yet another man go down with an injury as guard Pablo Prigioni twisted his ankle and left the contest.

Mike Scott scored 23 points with 14 rebounds for Atlanta, who are the sixth seed in the East.