(Photo Courtesy of Daniel Shirey/USA TODAY Sports)
What other team could the Knicks have asked to play on Saturday night to get a win. How about an Atlanta Hawks team without Paul Millsap and Al Horford? How about an Atlanta Hawks team who lost their last eight games? How about an Atlanta Hawks team that the New York has defeated twice already this season? The Hawks seemed like a great matchup for the Knicks to get back on track Saturday night.
Carmelo Anthony had another great game totaling 35 points and the Knicks had the lead as high as 17 points. New York even had productive days from center Tyson Chandler and Point Guard Raymond Felton who have struggled all season long. Felton had a double double while Chandler recorded a season high 23 rebounds.
Everything was going great for New York until the Hawks came roaring back and ended up winning the game 107-98. It has been a common theme for the Knicks all season to collapse in the second half of games while blowing double digit leads.
Jeff Teague scored 28 points as Raymond Felton continued getting exposed on defense. But the Hawks were carried by Mike Scott who flourished in the absence of Millsap and Horford. Scott finished with 30 points and eight rebounds to help the Hawks comeback. DeMarre Carroll had a career high 24 points and was able to get under the skin of Carmelo Anthony who picked up a technical foul for taunting Carroll after hitting a three point shot. Atlanta shot over 51 percent from behind the arc to end their eight game losing steak Saturday Night.
New York (21-35) now sits five and a half games back behind Charlotte, Brooklyn, and Atlanta for the final three playoff spots. If the Knicks are going to make the playoffs they will need to turn it around fast as only 26 games remain on New York’s schedule. Monday the Knicks will be back at the Garden to take on the Mavericks as the continue to fight toward the playoffs.
PureSportsNY:Tyler Henry