• Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

PHILADELPHIA, P.A. – Wednesday night, the New York Knicks hoped to turn things around against the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers had just 10 wins on the season, and seemed to be on the schedule at just the right time for New York. This game would be the confidence boost that the Knicks surely needed, if  they had won the game.

For most of the game, the Knicks looked in line to win. New York got strong contributions from Carmelo Anthony (28 PTS, 11-25 FG) and Derrick Rose (25 PTS, 11-16 FG). Rose was electric in his first game back, since taking a one game hiatus from the team. The Knicks desperately need Rose’s relentless attack of the rim, and Wednesday night Philadelphia faced just that.

New York shot an efficient 48% (42-86 FG), and held the 76ers to just 38% (37-95 FG) from the field. The ball was moving, as New York accounted for 20 team assists. There were many instances where the Knicks made hard cuts for lay-ups, or made the extra pass for an open jumper. This is the winning basketball we need to see more from New York. The Knicks also did a great job of converting from the charity stripe (9-10 FT).

(Photo Credit: AP / Matt Slocum) O'Quinn had a strong game off the bench for New York
(Photo Credit: AP / Matt Slocum)
O’Quinn had a strong game off the bench for New York

New York owned the defensive glass, by out-rebounding the 76ers 33-29 on the defensive boards. Kyle O’Quinn was the driving force, by grabbing 12 defensive rebounds off the bench in 24 minutes. O’Quinn’s double-double (10 PTS, 15 REBS) also included three assists, two steals and two blocks in just 24 minutes.

The Knicks held a 13 point lead with 8:18 remaining in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately for New York, the 4th quarter woes that have haunted them all season returned against Philadelphia. The Knicks went cold in the 4th quarter, and had no answer for Joel Embiid. Embiid crushed the Knicks with his interior presence. The rookie finished with a double double (21 PTS, 14 REBS), and helped the 76ers to erase the 13 point deficit. It was T.J. McConnell (8 PTS, 6 REBS, 7 AST) however that made a fade-away jumper over Anthony at the buzzer, which lifted the 76ers to a 98-97 victory.

(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum) McConnell was the unlikely hero Wednesday night.
(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum) McConnell was the unlikely hero Wednesday night.

Anthony went scoreless (0-3 FG) in the 4th quarter, and Kristaps Porzingis air-balled a wide open three pointer with :06 seconds left. That shot could have put New York up four points, and the game on ice. Instead, it started the game-winning fast break by Philadelphia. Porzingis (3-10 FG) struggled for his second straight game, and only finished with 7 points on the night.

The Knicks led by as many as 17 points in this game, and really let a win slip away. You can’t give games away in the NBA, especially if you’re a struggling team with playoff aspirations. New York has too much talent to be giving Philadelphia its 11th win of the season. The Knicks now sit with a 17-22 record, and 11th in the Eastern Conference.

Thursday, the Knicks will return back to Madison Square Garden to face the Chicago Bulls (19-20). Hopefully, the Knicks can dig deep, and find a way to right the ship.

Stats Of The Night:

  • The Knicks shot horribly from behind the arc (18%, 4-22 3PT).
  • Ron Baker did not play at all in Wednesday night’s contest.

Barry Holmes is a Senior Writer for PureSportsNY.com. Follow him on Twitter @BHO732

(Featured Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum

 

By Barry Holmes

Graduate of Millersville University, with a BS in Communications focused in Broadcast. Senior Writer & Social Media Manager for PureSportsNY.

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