NBA
Regular Season Round 138: Toronto R. - New York K. 94-99
Date: March 22, 2013
It was little more than a week ago that a doctor stuck a needle in the back of Carmelo Anthony’s stiff right knee and drained the fluid that had dampened his game. It was only days ago that Anthony returned, gingerly, to the Knicks’ lineup, his knee still a source of curiosity and concern. None of that seemed to matter Friday night when the final minutes arrived and the Toronto Raptors charged and the Knicks grew antsy and desperate. They needed big plays and timely points, and Anthony was the only one who could provide them that security. Anthony assumed the burden, played every necessary second and converted the critical shots, securing a 99-94 victory and a 2013 playoff berth. He played 43 minutes — about 11 more than Coach Mike Woodson had planned — and scored 37 points, 11 in the fourth quarter. “This was a game that we had to go get,” Woodson said, sounding almost apologetic about Anthony’s minutes. He added: “I couldn’t find a gap there to sit him. I feel bad about it, but hey, hopefully he’ll sleep tonight, ice up and be ready to go tomorrow.” The victory pushed the Knicks’ record to 41-26, mathematically out of reach of the Raptors (26-43), thus securing a playoff bid. The teams meet for the final time Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. This will be the Knicks’ third straight trip to the playoffs, their longest streak in more than a decade, since a run of 14 straight postseason berths from 1988 through 2001. The Knicks have 15 regular-season games left, however, and it appears they will remain thoroughly dependent on Anthony to keep them atop the Atlantic Division. This was not Anthony’s best night, to be sure. He shot 14 for 31 from the field, committed seven turnovers and missed two free throws in the fourth quarter. But he delivered when it mattered most. Toronto, which once trailed by 15 points, had whittled the Knicks’ lead to 84-82 with 6 minutes 16 seconds to play. Anthony’s 3-point play provided a little breathing room. Kenyon Martin followed with consecutive baskets, a dunk and a layup, and Raymond Felton hit a 3-pointer in an 11-2 run that effectively put the game away. When Alan Anderson hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 8, Anthony immediately responded with another jumper, smiling all the way. “The game is fun, especially when I’m able to play the way I know how to play, and be confident in things that I’m doing out there on the court,” Anthony said, drawing a contrast with the previous four weeks, when the knee limited his game. As for the extended run, which included playing the entire second half, Anthony just smiled sheepishly. “I’m all right,” he said, adding, “We needed every one of those minutes.” The Knicks also needed every ounce of energy from Martin, who again started in place of the injured Tyson Chandler. Martin played a season-high 36 minutes, made 9 of 10 shots and recorded his first double-double as a Knick, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. It is incredible to think that, just a month ago, Martin was sitting at home, unsigned. “If we didn’t have him, we would be in trouble right now,” Jason Kidd said. The Raptors lost Rudy Gay, their star forward, to a back injury in the first half, but they found a suitable replacement in Anderson, who scored a team-high 35 points, including six 3-pointers. Gay’s status for Saturday’s game was unclear. The Knicks have no shortage of motivation as they try to secure their first Atlantic Division title in nearly two decades. With the Knicks and the Nets splitting their head-to-head series, division record would serve as the first tiebreaker should the teams finish with identical records. The Knicks are 7-6 against Atlantic Division teams, while the Nets are 9-4. “We can’t have any slippage, no matter who we play,” Woodson said, “because Brooklyn’s not going anywhere and Boston’s not going anywhere.” So Anthony will keep playing every critical minute, his knee — and Woodson’s guilty conscience — notwithstanding. “He puts too much pressure on himself, man,” Anthony said of Woodson. “He can’t control that. He’s got to coach the game. If I got to play 48, I’ll play 48.” Courtesy of: nytimes.com
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
Regular Season Round 138: Toronto R. - New York K. 94-99
Date: March 22, 2013
It was little more than a week ago that a doctor stuck a needle in the back of Carmelo Anthony’s stiff right knee and drained the fluid that had dampened his game. It was only days ago that Anthony returned, gingerly, to the Knicks’ lineup, his knee still a source of curiosity and concern. None of that seemed to matter Friday night when the final minutes arrived and the Toronto Raptors charged and the Knicks grew antsy and desperate. They needed big plays and timely points, and Anthony was the only one who could provide them that security. Anthony assumed the burden, played every necessary second and converted the critical shots, securing a 99-94 victory and a 2013 playoff berth. He played 43 minutes — about 11 more than Coach Mike Woodson had planned — and scored 37 points, 11 in the fourth quarter. “This was a game that we had to go get,” Woodson said, sounding almost apologetic about Anthony’s minutes. He added: “I couldn’t find a gap there to sit him. I feel bad about it, but hey, hopefully he’ll sleep tonight, ice up and be ready to go tomorrow.” The victory pushed the Knicks’ record to 41-26, mathematically out of reach of the Raptors (26-43), thus securing a playoff bid. The teams meet for the final time Saturday night at Madison Square Garden. This will be the Knicks’ third straight trip to the playoffs, their longest streak in more than a decade, since a run of 14 straight postseason berths from 1988 through 2001. The Knicks have 15 regular-season games left, however, and it appears they will remain thoroughly dependent on Anthony to keep them atop the Atlantic Division. This was not Anthony’s best night, to be sure. He shot 14 for 31 from the field, committed seven turnovers and missed two free throws in the fourth quarter. But he delivered when it mattered most. Toronto, which once trailed by 15 points, had whittled the Knicks’ lead to 84-82 with 6 minutes 16 seconds to play. Anthony’s 3-point play provided a little breathing room. Kenyon Martin followed with consecutive baskets, a dunk and a layup, and Raymond Felton hit a 3-pointer in an 11-2 run that effectively put the game away. When Alan Anderson hit a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 8, Anthony immediately responded with another jumper, smiling all the way. “The game is fun, especially when I’m able to play the way I know how to play, and be confident in things that I’m doing out there on the court,” Anthony said, drawing a contrast with the previous four weeks, when the knee limited his game. As for the extended run, which included playing the entire second half, Anthony just smiled sheepishly. “I’m all right,” he said, adding, “We needed every one of those minutes.” The Knicks also needed every ounce of energy from Martin, who again started in place of the injured Tyson Chandler. Martin played a season-high 36 minutes, made 9 of 10 shots and recorded his first double-double as a Knick, with 19 points and 11 rebounds. It is incredible to think that, just a month ago, Martin was sitting at home, unsigned. “If we didn’t have him, we would be in trouble right now,” Jason Kidd said. The Raptors lost Rudy Gay, their star forward, to a back injury in the first half, but they found a suitable replacement in Anderson, who scored a team-high 35 points, including six 3-pointers. Gay’s status for Saturday’s game was unclear. The Knicks have no shortage of motivation as they try to secure their first Atlantic Division title in nearly two decades. With the Knicks and the Nets splitting their head-to-head series, division record would serve as the first tiebreaker should the teams finish with identical records. The Knicks are 7-6 against Atlantic Division teams, while the Nets are 9-4. “We can’t have any slippage, no matter who we play,” Woodson said, “because Brooklyn’s not going anywhere and Boston’s not going anywhere.” So Anthony will keep playing every critical minute, his knee — and Woodson’s guilty conscience — notwithstanding. “He puts too much pressure on himself, man,” Anthony said of Woodson. “He can’t control that. He’s got to coach the game. If I got to play 48, I’ll play 48.” Courtesy of: nytimes.com
 NEW YORK K. (coach: Michael Brown)99 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 9 | SjUhIjF, CiQBRlI | 34 | 68-84 (08.8%) | 8-2 (80%) | 9-66 (14.1%) | 8 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 49 | 60 | 5 |
| 8 | yRlUIj, eiFBIjd | 38 | 5-4 (5%) | 8-4 (11.9%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
| 2 | ABaUh, z.e. | 42 | 3-9 (09.6%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 4-9 (38.7%) | 6 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 63 | 65 | 5 |
| biQUaj, KRjFIj | 41 | 7-65 (75%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 0 | 1 | 66 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 67 | 89 | 5 | |
| 0 | Kadd, zisIj | 46 | 5-6 (5%) | 8-3 (05%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 5 |
| 86 | AhuBpRQU, oBij | 69 | 6-6 (655%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 66 | 5 |
| 84 | CiBMF, biQZus | 68 | 5-8 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | -6 | 5 |
| 7 | OQaDaIja, OiMlI | 65 | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| 61 | XILiV, AURLR | 1 | 6-6 (655%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| CIpRlijd, ChQasUIphRQ | 0 | 5-5 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 4 | -6 | 5 | |
| 1 | ChijdlRQ, wFsIj | gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj | ||||||||||||||||
| WhaUR, ziBRs | gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj | |||||||||||||||||
| wIUil | 82-37 (09.6%) | 65-88 (30.0%) | 64-83 (03.8%) | 7 | 46 | 35 | 61 | 83 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 64 | 77 | 29 | |||
 TORONTO R. (coach: Darko Rajakovic)94 |
| FIELD GOALS | REBOUNDS | FOULS | BLOCKS | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | NAME | MIN | 2PM-A | 3PM-A | FTM-A | OFF | DEF | RB | AS | F | RV | ST | FV | AG | TO | PT | RNK | +/- |
| 8 | yaRlds, vijdQF | 47 | 4-0 (15%) | 6-6 (655%) | 5-5 (5%) | 4 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 68 | 5 |
| 1 | SjdRQsIj, Slij | 41 | 0-9 (96.3%) | 1-66 (03.0%) | 9-2 (29.0%) | 6 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 40 | 46 | 5 |
| 65 | gReIJij, gRBiQ | 40 | 1-66 (03.0%) | 6-4 (44.4%) | 4-4 (655%) | 5 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 62 | 63 | 5 |
| 4 | vITQF, KFlR | 40 | 5-8 (5%) | 4-1 (05%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 65 | 0 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 65 | 5 |
| 69 | kilijZaujis, zIjis | 46 | 0-1 (24.4%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-6 (5%) | 6 | 1 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 65 | 68 | 5 |
| 46 | eIss, wRQQRjZR | 67 | 8-0 (35%) | 5-0 (5%) | 6-8 (05%) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 0 | -2 | 5 |
| 60 | zIhjsIj, SBaQ | 69 | 8-0 (35%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 8 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 5 |
| GiF, eudF | 63 | 8-1 (44.4%) | 5-6 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 6 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 5 | |
| 0 | vuZis, zIhj | 64 | 5-5 (5%) | 5-0 (5%) | 5-5 (5%) | 5 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | -3 | 5 |
| wRlfiaQ, ARMisUaij | gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj | |||||||||||||||||
| 43 | GQiF, SiQIj | gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj | ||||||||||||||||
| 66 | KlRaJi, vajis | gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj | ||||||||||||||||
| OaRUQus, baZViRl | gXO - CIiZh's gRZasaIj | |||||||||||||||||
| wIUil | 80-39 (04.8%) | 66-48 (43.3%) | 66-63 (92.1%) | 7 | 83 | 44 | 67 | 84 | 5 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 68 | 73 | 94 | |||
Terms:
Field Goals : 2PM-A (2 point Field Goal made-attempts) 3PM-A (3 point Field Goal made-attempts) FTM-A (free throws made-attempt)
Rebounds : OFF (Offensive) DEF (Defensive) TOT (total)
Fouls : CM (Committed) RV (received)
Blocks : FV (In Favor) AG (Against)
Other terms : MIN (minutes) AST (assists) ST (steals) TO (Turnovers) PTS (points) RNK (ranking)
