"J.R. Smith is picking his spots on the court and on the party scene.

Responding to Knicks coach Mike Woodson's remarks he has become "more professional'' this season, Smith candidly confessed he partied too much last season because he was swept away by Manhattan's bright lights.

"I'm not going to lie, the New York City nightlife pretty much got to me," Smith said at Thursday's morning shootaround at the At&T Center before he scored 17 points to help the Knicks rally to a 104-100 win over the Spurs. "I was going out pretty much every other night and not focused on the task at hand."

Smith, the Freehold, N.J., product, is on a scoring tear, averaging 18.0 points per game and hitting 14-of-19 3-point attempts. The Knicks' sixth man said he's more focused at practice this season than at any time in his nine-year career.