Boris Diaw & Gerald Henderson fashion a 118-110 Charlotte Bobcats win over the New York Knicks: NBA
After a poor start to the season, Boris Diaw bounced back with a season-high 27 points on 12-for-15 shooting and Gerald Henderson also poured in a season-high 24 on 10-for-13 as the Charlotte Bobcats ruined the return of Amare’
Stoudemire and Imran Shupert with a 118-110 decision at the Madison Square Garden.
Point guard D.J. Augustin also had a good game and ended it with a 14 point, 10 assist double-double. Byron Mullens came off the bench for a career-high 16 points, small forward Corey Maggette scored 12 and D.J. White had 10 points
and 9 boards.
The Knicks were led by Carmelo Anthony, who scored a game-high 32 points along with 6 rebound and 5 assists. He scored 22 of the Knicks’ 32 points in the last frame, but was unable to inspire them for one final push as New York
lost its second home in a row, against teams which are not considered contenders.
Stoudemire also had a 25 points and 9 rebounds game, but like Anthony, he lacked the hustle at the D. Shumpert came off the bench for 18; Toney Douglas had 13 while Tyson Chandler managed only 11 points.
The Knicks displayed yet another appalling defensive performance and were not simple able to guard the Bobcats. Mike D’ Antoni pointed out to the fact after the game, and has his work cut out now, to find a solution at that end;
"Offense was good ... just bad defense," he said. "Rotations weren't there. Give them a lot of credit, they played well, but at the same time we just played in spurts on defense. We just have to do a better job."
Stoudemire, who kick started the Knicks along with Shumpert early in the game also talked on the same line after the loss;
"We played well offensively. Defensively a few letdowns," He said. "They got off to a great start and they got hot there in the fourth quarter also."
Just like the previous loss against the Toronto Raptors, the Knicks got themselves in a double digit hole by the end of the first half and from there on they were always chasing the game. After staying within striking distance
till early in the second quarter, the Knicks allowed an 18-6 passage to the Bobcats, who raced off to a 62-52 lead at the interval.
The Knicks carved out a 10-2 run early in the second half to close in at 62-68, but every time they came within striking range, the Bobcats pulled away. The third quarter was tied at 26 apiece and despite Carmelo’s brilliance in
the fourth, the Knicks never threatened late.
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