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J.R. Smith is normally the guy watching Carmelo Anthony hit the game-winning shot, not the one knocking it down.
But with Anthony nursing a lacerated finger, the New York Knicks turned to Smith for the last shot and the eight-year NBA veteran delivered.
Smith hit a fallaway jumper from the left wing as time expired to give the Knicks a 100-98 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Wednesday night.
”I was hurt, but J.R. made it feel better,” Anthony said.
Anthony scored 20 of his 23 points in the first half, but went cold in the second half and wasn’t on the floor for the final 2:10 after injuring his left hand diving into the Knicks’ bench for a loose ball…
Tyson Chandler had 18 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks. Smith finished with 13 points.
Kemba Walker had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Bobcats (7-10), who have lost five straight games since equaling last season’s win total. Gerald Henderson scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter in his second game back after a 13-game layoff.
The Bobcats appeared in position to win late in the game after a miss by Raymond Felton with 14 seconds left, but rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist made an ill-advised pass toward the top of the key and Smith stepped in front of it to intercept it.
After a timeout, Smith drove to the left side and hit an 18-footer over Kidd-Gilchrist.
— Reported by Steve Reed of the Associated Press
