New York Knicks Blog – Page 79 – NBA Blog

Celtics beat Knicks in first matchup of the season

Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett jawed from baseline to midcourt, and Anthony still had more to say.

So the Knicks forward went toward the Celtics locker room after the game to keep shouting, taking his frustrations from the court right along with him and perhaps risking an NBA suspension.

Paul Pierce scored 23 points, and Boston beat New York 102-96 on Monday night in a heated first meeting of the season between the Atlantic Division rivals.

Anthony left without talking to reporters and the Knicks wouldn’t comment on Anthony’s postgame trip in the wrong direction, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn’t deny it.

”I’m going to let you all figure that one out. I’m going to stay out of that,” Rivers said. ”If it was the playoffs I’d tell on him, but since it’s not I’m going to just be quiet.”

Rivers didn’t need to. MSG Network reported the incident, in which security had to step in and send Anthony back in the right direction, as it went to its postgame show, and the league likely will investigate and could penalize the Knicks’ leading scorer…

Garnett added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who even without the suspended Rajon Rondo won their third straight and finally are playing like the team that has ruled the division for the last half-decade…

Anthony had 20 points but shot 6 of 26 while battling his temper, Garnett and foul trouble…

J.R. Smith led the Knicks with 24 points. Tyson Chandler had 13 points and 17 rebounds.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Carmelo Anthony tried to get at Kevin Garnett after Knicks-Celtics game

The Boston Celtics had the last word on the court after some tough talk between Kevin Garnett and Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, but Anthony reportedly twice tried to continue the conversation after the game — going as far as waiting by the Celtics’ team bus.

The pair of stars had engaged in a tussle that resulted in a double technical foul in the intense fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 102-96 victory at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Afterwards, MSG Network reported Anthony screamed as he headed toward the Celtics’ locker room after the game.

Anthony’s persistence in trying to meet up with Garnett after the game is likely to gain the NBA’s attention and could draw a suspension and fine…

Boston coach Doc Rivers declined to elaborate on the post-game incident by the Celtics’ locker room, but when asked about Anthony coming over there, the coach indicated there was something to talk about.

“I’m gonna stay out of that,” Rivers said. “If it was the playoffs, I’d tell on him, but since it’s not, I’ll just keep it quiet.”

He added that it’s fine for things to get heated during the game, but that they shouldn’t carry over.

But a video later posted by Comcast SportsNet New England later showed Anthony, dressed in street clothes, waiting by the Celtics’ team bus. The video shows several security members standing by him along with Knicks coach Mike Woodson. One of the security members gently put his hand on Anthony and the Knicks forward nudged it away.

The video cuts off as Woodson appears to be talking to Anthony, but the New York Daily News cited a source on the scene as saying Woodson ordered the player to leave peacefully.

— Reported by Dave Buscema of the Sports Xchange

Video of Melo waiting for Kevin Garnett near bus after the game

Iman Shumpert hopes he can return for Knicks in near future

Iman Shumpert is hoping to be cleared by doctors this week and could rejoin the lineup within one or two weeks.

“You’ve got to listen to the doctors because I’m just young and I just want to play,” Shumpert, the second year guard said on Saturday. “So part of it is me just being competitive and wanting to play. But I mean, we’re going to read the data and make sure everything is okay. If I feel any pain I’m not going to do no more.”

Shumpert suffered a devastating knee injury during Game 1 of the Knicks playoff series with the Miami Heat last May. Normally, it takes a player a calendar year to regain full strength which is clearly the case for Minnesota’s Ricky Rubio, who suffered a similar injury and has struggled since returning to the lineup.

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Amare Stoudemire says he is finally being taught to play defense

Amar’e Stoudemire went with the reliable “taken out of context” defense regarding his comments that indicated he was never taught defense before Mike Woodson was promoted to Knicks head coach.

The remarks appeared to be a thinly veiled shot at Mike D’Antoni, his former coach in Phoenix and New York. On Friday, D’Antoni called Stoudemire’s comments “mind-boggling.”

“It wasn’t meant to be as exaggerated as it was,” Stoudemire said on Saturday. “For the simple fact: Woodson is a defensive coach. He’s known to be a defensive coach. So his strategies he’s teaching me now is different from what I learned before. He puts a lot of emphasis on the defensive end — more than I ever had before.

“It wasn’t a knock on any of my previous coaches. I had great success with Coach D’Antoni. He had to be doing something right because we won many games. It was more a compliment to Coach Woodson.’’

— Reported by Frank Isola of the New York Daily News

Raymond Felton thinks he can return for Knicks in late January

Raymond Felton is relieved that he didn’t need surgery on his right hand and believes he can return in late January, the week after the Knicks return from London.

Felton said if he had required surgery to repair the fracture in his right pinkie that he suffered Dec. 25 against the Lakers, he would have missed eight to 12 weeks because “they would have had to put in pins and screws.” No surgery made it four to six weeks. Felton is shooting for closer to four.

“Once my bone heals, it’s probably up to my comfort,” he said. “Hopefully the bone will heal before we leave for London.”

The Knicks are scheduled to fly to London Jan. 14. He’s targeting Boston on Jan. 24 or Philadelphia on Jan. 26.

— Reported by Al Iannazzone of New York Newsday

Knicks end Spurs 7-game winning streak in romp

Sometime between Stephen Jackson’s sideline stumble and J.R. Smith’s soaring slam, the San Antonio Spurs realized this wasn’t their night.

Too much fatigue and way too much Knicks defense.

Carmelo Anthony scored 23 points, Smith kept up his surge with 20 and New York snapped San Antonio’s seven-game winning streak with a 100-83 victory Thursday night.

Steve Novak added 15 points and Tyson Chandler had 10 points and 14 rebounds to help the Knicks bounce back from consecutive losses by dominating the final period against the Spurs, who appeared to run out of gas in their second game in two nights.

”They shot the hell out of it and I could see it wasn’t going to happen,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. ”Just too low on fuel and their defense was too good. Bad combination, and then they made shots, which makes it even worse.”

Tim Duncan and Tony Parker each had just 11 points for the Spurs, who lost Jackson to an unusual injury, then lost what had been the NBA’s longest winning streak.

Jackson played just three minutes off the bench before spraining his right ankle when he took a shot then fell back into a waitress working the sideline in front of Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Smith, who had scored 25 points in his last four games as a reserve, highlighted his outing with an acrobatic dunk in the fourth quarter that brought fans to their feet. The lobbed pass came from reserve point guard Pablo Prigioni, who had one of his most complete games since coming to the NBA at age 35, finishing with six points and nine assists.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Amare Stoudemire returns in Knicks loss to Blazers

In 16:41 of action, Stoudemire finished with six points on 3-of-8 shooting with only one rebound. He received a standing ovation when he checked into the game with 3:31 left in the first quarter.

“I almost shed a tear when I got out on the court,’’ Stoudemire said. “I’m glad to see the fans were patient with me.’’

In the second half, Stoudemire showed he can still run the pick-and- roll, but struggled most rotating on defense — coach Mike Woodson’s largest concern — despite two blocks. Stoudemire missed his first five shots and made his final three.

“My second half was better than my first half,” Stoudemire said, “and hopefully my second game will be better than my first game.”

With Stoudemire sealed to the bench, the Knicks — who were 21-9 without him — rallied from 11 points down in the final four minutes and cut the deficit to three points on two occasions in the last minute.

— Reported by Marc Berman of the New York Post

Melo scores 45, Stoudemire returns, but Knicks lose to Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers overcame Carmelo Anthony’s season high-tying 45 points and spoiled Amare Stoudemire’s season debut, beating the New York Knicks 105-100 on Tuesday night.

Nicolas Batum scored 26 points, Damian Lillard had 21 points, six assists and five rebounds, and LaMarcus Aldridge had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Portland.

Stoudemire finished with six points on 3-of-8 shooting and one rebound in 17 minutes off the bench in his return from knee surgery. Anthony shot 14 of 24 and nearly led the Knicks back from 19 points down after missing two games with a knee injury, but the Trail Blazers had too many options.

J.J. Hickson scored all of his 18 points in the first half as Portland won for the third time in four games.

Anthony had missed the previous two games with a hyperextended left knee. The Knicks are still without point guard Raymond Felton because of a broken pinky finger and struggled to get their offense going until too late, losing for the third time in four games.

J.R. Smith had 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Knicks.

Stoudemire had surgery on Oct. 31 to clean up tissue in his left knee and decided to play after going through a couple of practices this week, though adding he wasn’t yet 100 percent.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Amare Stoudemire returns for Knicks

Amare Stoudemire is making his season debut and Carmelo Anthony is back in the starting lineup for the New York Knicks against Portland.

Stoudemire will come off the bench as he plays his way back into shape following left knee surgery Oct. 31. Both Stoudemire and coach Mike Woodson said the forward’s minutes would be limited in Tuesday night’s game.

”It’s been a long time coming. I’ve been so ready to play, I put in so much hard work this offseason and then to have to sit out for the first half of this season, but now to be back, I’m so ready to go,” Stoudemire said. ”I’m ready to provide whatever my team needs to improve, so that’s what I’m here for.”

Anthony missed two games with a hyperextended left knee, an injury that occurred in the Knicks’ loss to the Lakers on Christmas. The Knicks are still without point guard Raymond Felton because of a broken right pinky, and Rasheed Wallace remains out with a sore left foot.

— Reported by Brian Mahoney of the Associated Press

Paul Harris named D-League Performer of Week

Paul Harris of the Iowa Energy was today named NBA Development League Performer of the Week for games played Dec. 24 – 30.

A 6-4, 230-pound forward out of Syracuse, Harris led the Energy to a three-win week, averaging 26.7 points on 60.8 percent shooting from the floor to go with 13.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 40.0 minutes. He record 30-plus point outings on Dec. 25 against the Sioux Falls Skyforce and Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Other top performers considered include Austin’s Tre Kelley, Bakersfield’s Damion James, Canton’s Samardo Samuels, on assignment from the Cleveland Cavaliers, Erie’s Demonte Harper, Fort Wayne’s Luke Harangody, Idaho’s Justin Holiday, Los Angeles’ Darius Johnson-Odom, on assignment from the Los Angeles D-Fenders, Maine’s DaJuan Summers, Rio Grande Valley’s Terrence Jones, Reno’s Darnell Jackson, Santa Cruz’s Jeremy Tyler, Sioux Falls’ Andrew Goudelock, Texas’ Sean Singletary and Tulsa’s Chris Quinn.