Knicks Edge 76ers, Slide into Sixth Seed by Derrel "Jazz" Johnson

Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks showed why he was acquired in a February trade. With the Knicks clinging to a one-point lead at 92-91, Anthony calmly nailed a three-pointer to put the Knicks up by four with 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Knicks went on to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 97-92 for their fifth-straight win. With the victory, the Knicks moved past the 76ers in the battle for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference.
“We’re keeping the momentum going, we’re keeping the streak going” Anthony said. When asked about the clutch three pointer, Anthony responded “as soon as I let it go, I felt good.”
Both Amar’e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups left the game with injuries. Stoudemire an ankle injury, which he returned from, and Billups a thigh injury that he eventually left the game for.
Stoudemire talked about the sprain of his left ankle after the game. “It’s pretty sore. Hopefully, I can go,” he said, referring to Friday’s game in Newark. When asked about returning to the game, Stoudemire said “I just wanted to win.”
Billups discussed his injury as well after the game. “It’s sore right now but I’ll be alright. It’s not like the last one. If I could play I’m going to play. I’m just going to be smart. Hopefully I could play Friday.”
“Billups could have come back, but we were just being cautious,” Knicks head coach Mike D’Antoni said after the game. He added “I thought the whole game we played pretty good defense.” When asked about the play of Anthony, D’Antoni responded “He’s just hard to guard one-on-one. He’s shooting the ball extremely well.”
Anthony led the Knicks with 31 points, 11 rebounds and 2 blocks, while Stoudemire added 18 points, 6 rebounds, a season-high 7 assists, and 3 blocks. Toney Douglas came off the bench to add 17 points.
Phiadelphia head coach Doug Collins was proud of his team for not giving up. “How many times did it look like our guys were just dead in the water tonight? Typical 76ers team of this year. Fought, fought, fought.”
The Knicks led by 16 in the first half, 42-26 on a jumper by Anthony with 5:22 left in the second quarter, and took their biggest lead of the game, 69-50, on a basket by Landry Fields, with 5:56 left in the third quarter. The 76ers actually took a one-point lead on a lay up by Jodie Mee, 88-87, with 2:46 left in the game, before Douglas hit a three pointer to give the Knicks a 90-88 lead with 1:47 left.
The Knicks play the New Jersey Nets tomorrow at 7pm at the Prudential Center in Newark.

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