(Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports)
The New York Knicks began the calendar year in San Antonio riding a three game losing streak. You had to wonder how NY would come out but at the very least knew their chances of winning had greatly improved with the news that their leader, Carmelo Anthony would be returning to the lineup. Melo had not seen game action since the teams December 23rd game against Orlando.
For the Knicks to truly get on track and turn their season around his supporting cast would need to own up to its share of the responsibility and for one night at the Alamo, they did just that. Despite a career shooting game from Marco Belinelli (32pts, 6-9 from three) the league’s leading 3 point shooter the Knicks went toe to toe with the defending Western Conference Champions. The much maligned Iman Shumpert (27pts) dazzled on both ends routinely knocking down jumpers and keeping Tony Parker out of the paint. During one sequence in the first Shumpert intercepted an errant Manu Ginobili pass and was rewarded on the other end finishing with an emphatic one-handed flush in transition.
The two teams jostled throughout exchanging runs and baskets but it was the Knicks who went in to the fourth quarter with a 6 point lead. It was late in the fourth when the Spurs made their run hitting three, 3 pointers and 5 free throws during the stretch to tie the game at 96. A Tim Duncan layup offered San Antonio their first lead of the second half but it was short lived as Anthony along with Shumpert would seal the deal, scoring 9 of the contests final 12 points. The dagger coming with just 23.4 seconds, Shumpert would soar through the air and tip in a long Anthony miss. The Knicks bench erupted and finally Belinelli didn’t have an answer on the potential tying three.
This was the type of effort that Knicks fans have been clamoring for all season long. With the team heading to the Toyota Center to take on James Harden, Dwight Howard and the Rockets it would behoove New York to bring the same passion and intensity it displayed last night against the Spurs.
NOTES:
Anthony continued his streak of leading/co-leading the team in scoring in every game he’s played in this season (27pts) Melo also had a game high 12 rounds.
New York has won 3 out of the last 4 against the Spurs. Including the last 2 at the AT&T Center
Shumpert (27) & Belinelli (32) both notched career highs in scoring. Each of whom hit 6, three pointers.
New York shot over 50% from the field, 3 point range and 90% from the free throw line.
This was only San Antonio’s second loss of the season to an Eastern Conference team. (IND)
Wilson Caicedo:PureSportsNY