Recap: Melo Too Much for Knicks

by Tommy Dee on November 28th, 2009 at 12:02 pm


BOX SCORE:

By Michael Kelly, for NBA.com
Posted Saturday November 28, 2009 1:24AM

DENVER (NBA.com exclusive) — Carmelo Anthony toed the foul line with 16.7 seconds left and a heavy burden on his shoulders.

The Nuggets’ star had 48 points, but more importantly his team held a precarious two-point lead on the feisty Knicks. With the game on the line and the first 50-point game of his NBA career in sight, the pressure was magnified.

“They might have been the two toughest free throws I’ve shot in a while,” Anthony said. “We’ve got the game on the line, 50, you’re right there and you want to get it.”

Anthony didn’t flinch. He swished both free throws and the Nuggets held on for a 128-125 win Friday night.

After coming close to 50 a couple of times — he had 49 against Washington two seasons ago — he finally got the magic number, and his teammates couldn’t be happier.

“That was a treat,” said Chauncey Billups, who had 32 points and eight assists. “He got real close, had 49, but couldn’t get over the hump. That’s one you remember for a lifetime.”

Getting the win will help keep the memory pleasant, but it wasn’t easy. Despite their 3-12 record coming into Friday’s game, the Knicks were formidable, battling Denver to the final buzzer. Al Harrington came off the bench to score 41 points and pull down 10 rebounds and David Lee had 23 points and 10 rebounds.

“I felt like we played hard and took a step forward,” said Harrington, who now has three 40-point games in his career. “If we play like this against most teams we can win our fair share of games.”

They nearly pulled out Friday’s game. After trailing for most of the first half, Denver rallied and took an eight-point lead on Anthony’s three-point play early in the fourth quarter. But New York’s shooters closed the gap, and Nate Robinson tied it at 100 with a five-foot hook with 7:56 left.

Denver appeared to take control again when Billups nailed a 3-pointer to push the lead to 118-112 with 2:26 left, but the Knicks never quit. They had a chance to tie it with a 3-pointer in the last 4.4 seconds but Larry Hughes couldn’t get off a shot.

“They are a difficult team to play,” Billups said. “They have so many shooters, they run a great system [Mike] D’Antoni has, and when they have that many guys scoring it’s going to take an unbelievable effort to beat them. If their scorers had played that well the first 15 games they’d probably be over .500.” More…
  • LJohnson2k8

    Rhj

  • LJohnson2k8

    Sorry about that, Melo was great in the game as well as Billups. As usual other teams have a bonafide all star/go to man and we haven’t had one since Ewing. I thought the Knicks would pull this off but my better judgement says they would find a way to lose. Quick concern, I am tired of hearing about Gallo’s youth. I think his back is preventing him from diving for balls or battling in the paint. And yes his teamates seem to be freezing him out, he shows nothing really but a three pt shot and he only takes it when he is wide open rarely with defenders on him. I never viewed Gallo as an all star to be but this don’t look good. As far as TD and Hill I don’t think they will play much now as Dantoni has shortened his rotation and getting competitive games every now and then.

  • oscar f

    Hey Tommy anything new on the horizon in reguards to trades. Is Donnie really opposed to using Mobleys contract as a trade asset?

  • Dave the Rave

    Wilson Chandler is so maddening to watch. He’s a hell of an athlete and has a great body, but he is reluctant to take responsibility and play with passion. His offense was great at times, but he seems to be afraid/bashful to let it all hang out. Who knows if he will come out of his shell, but maybe he won’t and he’d be better off on a small market team. If he really wanted to earn his paycheck he should have taken on the challenge of stopping Melo last night and dogged him and mixed it up. He should feel bad that Melo trashed him. Someone needs to light a stick of dynamite under his ass.

  • oscar f

    He is not that kind of player. People(especially the knicks org.) try to make him out be somthing he is not . He is not a proven go to scorer, not a defensive specialist, not a power foward and not a 3pt specialist. He is a 3 with slasher abilities with the game of a 2 and needs a good 1 to be affective .

  • LJohnson2k8

    Wilson is from seeing him play a meek person. Nothing wrong with that to me he is probably a great person to talk to and chill with. Even in interviews he seems very humbled by the opportunity he has of being in the NBA but in reality in sports especially the NBA you have to have a competitors edge to want to be better than the next man. And he may play with that fire but it doesn’t translate to facial expressions or body language. If he gets fouled but no call he doesn’t say a word. If fouls someone and he feels it was a wrong call he looks like he is gonna cry. Its who he is and we have to accept it. We want more on our teams in NY. He does fit on a small market team where the focus is not on his expressions and expectations won’t be as high.

  • Dave the Rave

    Yup…..but the fire is only 50% lit. Clyde never showed his emotions, but he had the pride to carry the team, stop his man and give everything he had with 100% fire. Wilson’s stove needs more fuel.