The New York Knicks (36–38) ended their six game skid on Monday night with a 113–106 OT win against the Orlando Magic (47–26) at Madison Square Garden, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 39 points.
“We had the will to win,” Anthony told MSG after the game. “We wanted it bad enough tonight. We went out and got it. We played together. We stuck with it.”
Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni had lit a fire under the Knicks prior to Monday’s game: the team was not yet at serious risk of not making the playoffs but were at risk of fizzling out as the regular season enters its final two weeks.
The Magic, conversely, who just last Wednesday beat New York 111–99 at MSG, were riding a five game winning streak heading into Monday’s game but were without their starting point guard Jameer Nelson and key reserve player JJ Redick.
The game was an all-out battle throughout, with neither team leading by double-digits as several ties and lead changes occurred, especially in the second half. The Knicks finished the half up 48-46 led by Amar’e Stoudemire’s 13 points.
Anthony, who scored just six points in the first half, came alive in the third quarter to score 19 points, and kept pouring it on throughout the fourth quarter.
The Knicks defense really kicked in down the stretch of regulation time led by Shawne Williams, which helped create offensive opportunities and lifted the team to a six-point lead with a minute to go in regulation.
A deep 3-pointer by Gilbert Arenas brought the Magic to within a point with 30 seconds left in the game, but then Dwight Howard got called for goaltending on the following Knicks possession to give the Knicks a 100–97 lead.
The Magic had 10 seconds to tie it up, and they did, with Bill Richardson draining an uncontested 3-pointer with just under six seconds to spare. It was surprising that Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni didn’t have his team foul immediately when Orlando inbounded the ball.
After a timeout the Knicks would go to Anthony for the final shot with just under six seconds on the clock. Anthony was guarded heavily but the Magic were careful not to foul, and Anthony’s shot wouldn’t fall, sending it to OT.
Howard fouled out of the game with a minute to go in OT on a loose ball foul and then was given a technical foul after throwing the ball in complaint. That was Howard’s 18th technical foul of the season. His next one will result in an automatic one-game suspension.
The Magic had another opportunity to tie the game with a 3-pointer with under a minute to go in the game but couldn’t get a shot off under intense defensive pressure by the Knicks.
Orlando was forced to foul after that, sending Anthony to the line where he hit one of his foul shots to seal the win.
Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups, and Toney Douglas added 20 points, 17 points, and 16 points to Anthony’s 39 points. The Magic were led by Dwight Howard with 29 points and 18 rebounds, while Richardson contributed 24.
“We had the will to win,” Anthony told MSG after the game. “We wanted it bad enough tonight. We went out and got it. We played together. We stuck with it.”
Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni had lit a fire under the Knicks prior to Monday’s game: the team was not yet at serious risk of not making the playoffs but were at risk of fizzling out as the regular season enters its final two weeks.
The Magic, conversely, who just last Wednesday beat New York 111–99 at MSG, were riding a five game winning streak heading into Monday’s game but were without their starting point guard Jameer Nelson and key reserve player JJ Redick.
The game was an all-out battle throughout, with neither team leading by double-digits as several ties and lead changes occurred, especially in the second half. The Knicks finished the half up 48-46 led by Amar’e Stoudemire’s 13 points.
Anthony, who scored just six points in the first half, came alive in the third quarter to score 19 points, and kept pouring it on throughout the fourth quarter.
The Knicks defense really kicked in down the stretch of regulation time led by Shawne Williams, which helped create offensive opportunities and lifted the team to a six-point lead with a minute to go in regulation.
A deep 3-pointer by Gilbert Arenas brought the Magic to within a point with 30 seconds left in the game, but then Dwight Howard got called for goaltending on the following Knicks possession to give the Knicks a 100–97 lead.
The Magic had 10 seconds to tie it up, and they did, with Bill Richardson draining an uncontested 3-pointer with just under six seconds to spare. It was surprising that Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni didn’t have his team foul immediately when Orlando inbounded the ball.
After a timeout the Knicks would go to Anthony for the final shot with just under six seconds on the clock. Anthony was guarded heavily but the Magic were careful not to foul, and Anthony’s shot wouldn’t fall, sending it to OT.
Howard fouled out of the game with a minute to go in OT on a loose ball foul and then was given a technical foul after throwing the ball in complaint. That was Howard’s 18th technical foul of the season. His next one will result in an automatic one-game suspension.
The Magic had another opportunity to tie the game with a 3-pointer with under a minute to go in the game but couldn’t get a shot off under intense defensive pressure by the Knicks.
Orlando was forced to foul after that, sending Anthony to the line where he hit one of his foul shots to seal the win.
Stoudemire, Chauncey Billups, and Toney Douglas added 20 points, 17 points, and 16 points to Anthony’s 39 points. The Magic were led by Dwight Howard with 29 points and 18 rebounds, while Richardson contributed 24.
