New York Knicks Blog – Page 75 – NBA Blog

Rasheed Wallace healing time may exceed 8 weeks

Rasheed Wallace’s surgery in which a screw was inserted into his left foot Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery was done with his goal of returning sometime during the playoffs.

Wallace could have just called it a career, placed a cast on the foot for 12 weeks and been done with basketball. According to a source, he contemplated that possibility the last several days.

The Knicks, however, announced an eight-week timetable that could put him back on the court in the middle of the first round. But one leading medical expert said Wallace will not be at 100 percent healed after just eight weeks from surgery to repair a Jones fracture of his fifth metatarsal.

Dr. Anish Kadakia, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Northwestern University who specializes in Jones fractures, told The Post Wallace could be running in six weeks. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t be 100 percent for 12 weeks.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Stephen Curry scores 54 points in Warriors 109-105 loss to Knicks

Stephen Curry rose for another jumper, and by then even the Knicks probably figured it would go in.

Curry had hardly missed in a scintillating second half of the NBA’s most electric performance this season, the crowd cheering even before the ball left his hands.

This time, Raymond Felton jumped with him, making the play New York needed to finally withstand Curry.

Felton’s blocked shot led to J.R. Smith’s tiebreaking basket with 1:10 left, and the Knicks overcame Curry’s NBA season-high 54 points to beat the Golden State Warriors 109-105 on Wednesday night.

Curry was 18 of 28 from the field, finishing one shy of the NBA record with 11 3-pointers in 13 attempts, in a performance that had the crowd hanging on his every shot. But the Knicks and Felton finally stopped him with 1:28 to play and the score tied at 105…

Carmelo Anthony followed Smith’s basket with another one and the Knicks hung on to spoil former Knicks star and Warriors coach Mark Jackson’s homecoming.

Anthony finished with 35 points and Smith had 26…

Playing all 48 minutes, Curry finished with seven assists and six rebounds while passing his previous career best of 42 points, and Kevin Durant’s 52-point performance that had been the best in the NBA this season.

”I felt good all night. Obviously played the whole game, so was just trying to keep my legs underneath me on the offensive end, and you know, just stick to the game on the defensive end,” Curry said. ”Once I started seeing that 3-ball go down in transition, all sorts of spots on the floor, I knew it was going to be a good night.”

But he had little help without All-Star forward David Lee, who was suspended one game for his role in an altercation Tuesday night in Indiana.

Tyson Chandler had 16 points and a career-best 28 rebounds for the Knicks, who won their second straight after a season-high, four-game losing streak. Amare Stoudemire had 14 points and Anthony added eight assists on the day the Knicks learned they could be without reserve forward Rasheed Wallace for the rest of the season because he needs surgery to repair a broken bone in his left foot.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Amare Stoudemire OK with 30 minutes per game limit

With Amar’e Stoudemire continuing to play well since his Jan. 1 return from knee surgery, the question has intensified: Why are his minutes still maxed out at 30?

That was the feeling after Tuesday’s practice as Stoudemire was coming off his best performance of the season — a season-high 22 points on 9-for-10 shooting in the Knicks’ win over the 76ers on Sunday night.

But Mike Woodson remained adamant that 30 is the time limit — a decision he said has been made by the team’s medical staff — and that is fine by Stoudemire.

“I have no problem with that,” the power forward said. “You can be very productive in 30 minutes and so that’s my motto right now — to really come out and be aggressive and efficient in 30 minutes. I think it’s more so just about playing smart basketball offensively.”

Woodson said the playing-time restriction will only benefit Stoudemire down the road.

— Reported by Jared Zwerling of ESPN New York

Stoudemire OK with bench role while Knicks win

Amar’e Stoudemire has said all the right things about coming off the bench, but that has been easier to do given how much the Knicks were winning. Should the Knicks go cold, however, as they did in the four games prior to Sunday’s win, Stoudemire hinted he might not be so thrilled about it.

“As long as we’re winning. If we keep winning then we’re good,” said Stoudemire, who scored 22 points on 9-of-10 shooting. “When you start losing a little bit then you start thinking about it.”

Kenyon Martin was on the game day roster for the Knicks for the first time Sunday, but Mike Woodson wasn’t prepared to get him some court time just yet.

— Reported by Seth Walder of the New York Daily News

Knicks beat 76ers to end 4-game losing streak

Even when he wasn’t hitting his shots, Carmelo Anthony delivered a shot.

Tired of losing and determined to stop it, the New York Knicks toughened up and fought their way out of their worst slump of the season.

Anthony scored 29 points, Amare Stoudemire had a season-high 22, and the Knicks snapped their four-game losing streak by beating the Philadelphia 76ers 99-93 on Sunday night.

”Losing games, games we think we’re supposed to win, you come into a game like this, we want to win,” Anthony said. ”Definitely want to be a very high-intensity game, a very high-energetic game back here on our home court and we didn’t want to lose this game.”

Anthony was only 6 of 18 from the field, but made 16 of 18 free throws and also was called for a flagrant foul for the fired-up Knicks, who have fallen behind Indiana into third place in the Eastern Conference and whose Atlantic Division lead over the Brooklyn Nets is down to two games…

”After losing four straight, it’s never a good feeling losing games, so tonight we came out with the intensity from the start that we needed,” said Stoudemire, who was 9 of 10 from the field.

All-Star Jrue Holiday had 30 points, five rebounds and five assists for the 76ers, who have lost five straight overall. Evan Turner had 21 points and Thaddeus Young added 11 points and 10 rebounds after missing six games with a strained left hamstring…

Raymond Felton finished with 14 points despite bruising his right heel and J.R. Smith also had 14 for the Knicks…

Kenyon Martin didn’t play in his first game since signing a 10-day contract Saturday. Though he hasn’t played since finishing last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, Martin said he has kept himself in good shape and would find ways to produce until he got back into good basketball condition.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Kenyon Martin excited for chance with Knicks

Kenyon Martin spent the past four months waiting for the phone to ring, hoping he’d get a chance to play basketball again.

There were days when he worried the call never would come.

“It was a daily struggle … I went through every emotion early in the season. Mad, sad, upset, frustrated, you name it, I went through it. It just got to a point where I couldn’t let that consume my daily thoughts,” Martin said. “I wanted to play.”

Martin now has the chance to play again. On Saturday, the New York Knicks agreed to terms with the 35-year-old veteran on a 10-day contract.

Martin spent Saturday afternoon working out at the Knicks’ practice facility, running on the side with a trainer and going through some of the Knicks’ offensive and defensive sets with teammates.

“It feels great just to throw a uniform on again,” Martin said.

— Reported by Ian Begley of ESPN New York

Syracuse retires jersey of Carmelo Anthony

Syracuse retired former star Carmelo Anthony’s No. 15 jersey during halftime of its game against Georgetown on Saturday in the Carrier Dome.

A sellout crowd of 35,012, the largest to see a college basketball game in an on-campus arena, watched a large replica of Anthony’s jersey get unveiled in the rafters. The New York Knicks star was presented a framed jersey at center court.

— Reported by the Associated Press

Knicks sign Kenyon Martin to 10-day contract

Veteran free agent forward Kenyon Martin finally has a new job. For 10 days, at least.

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has signed Martin to a 10-day contract.

Martin, 6-9, 230-pounds, holds averages of 13.0 points, on 48.1-percent shooting, 7.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.21 steals and 1.17 blocks over 31.6 minutes in 696 career games (641 starts), over 12 seasons with New Jersey, Denver and the L.A. Clippers. He has appeared in 100 postseason games (87 starts), averaging 13.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists over 33.4 minutes.

Last season, Saginaw, MI-native appeared in 42 games for the L.A. Clippers to post 5.2 points and 4.3 rebounds over 22.4 minutes. He was originally selected by New Jersey, following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Cincinnati, with the first pick overall of 2000 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 2001 and represented the Eastern Conference at the 2004 NBA All-Star Game.

Martin should be able to play solid bench depth in limited minutes of action.

According to the New York Post, “Though Anthony once touted Ronnie Brewer in October as the Knicks’ unsung signing, he welcomed with open arms his former Denver teammate, Kenyon Martin, who replaced Brewer on the roster. “If he’s in shape and locked in, I think he can be a big attribute to this team,’’ Anthony said before last night’s defeat. “I’ve been able to play with him for a few years and I know from a basketball standpoint what he brings to the game when he’s locked in and focused. I haven’t talked to him yet. People that I know have spoken to him and say he’s been playing and he’s in shape, ready and focused. As long as that’s the plan, we’re all for it.’’

Knicks trade Ronnie Brewer to Thunder

New York Knicks Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations and General Manager Glen Grunwald announced today that the team has acquired a 2014 second-round draft choice and cash considerations from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for guard Ronnie Brewer.

“We are pleased to bring in a defensive-minded player like Ronnie, a high-character person who has played for coaches and programs throughout his career that we have a great deal of respect for,” said Thunder Executive Vice President and General Manager Sam Presti. “He is a versatile defender with playoff experience that will add depth to our wing positions.”

Brewer (6-7, 225), a seven-year NBA veteran, has played in 464 career games (301 starts) with Utah, Memphis, Chicago and New York. The Fayetteville, Ark. native owns career averages of 8.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.3 steals in 24.2 minutes per game. He has appeared in 46 playoff contests (17 starts), averaging 5.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 18.4 minutes per contest.

“The opportunity to acquire a trade exception was important to us strategically as it gives us the roster flexibility that we value,” Presti said. “Eric has been an absolute professional during his time with the Thunder and he will have a very productive career beyond this season.”

According to multiple reports, the Knicks will use the open roster spot to sign veteran forward Kenyon Martin to a 10-day contract.

Paul George scores 27, Pacers wreck Knicks 125-91

Paul George scored 27 points and the Indiana Pacers powered their way closer to the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference by beating the New York Knicks 125-91 on Wednesday night.

David West had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Lance Stephenson added 14 points for Indiana (33-21), which pulled within a half-game of the Knicks for second place in the East.

The Pacers shot 53 percent from the field, scored a season-high point total and had a season-best 28 assists against the Atlantic Division leaders. It was Indiana’s largest margin of victory this season and New York’s worst loss.

Tyson Chandler led New York with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Carmelo Anthony, the league’s No. 2 scorer, finished with 15 points on 7-for-21 shooting.

George, fresh off a strong performance in his first All-Star Game appearance, made 11 of 19 shots and grabbed eight rebounds.

New York was called for three individual technical fouls and a flagrant foul, and J.R. Smith was ejected…

New York shot just 33 percent in the first half. Anthony scored eight points on 4-for-10 shooting before the break.

— Reported by Cliff Brunt of the Associated Press