Cleveland Cavaliers beat struggling New York Knicks 91-81 - NBA Recap
Just when it looked like the New York Knicks were finally getting back on track after routing Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday night - ending their six game losing streak - they faced yet another disturbing loss.
This time at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Knicks looked a completely different team tonight than what they were in the game against the Bobcats. Erratic with their shooting, Knicks shot only 42.1% from the floor and committed 22 turnovers in the game.
Star player Carmelo Anthony, who was playing with an injured thumb, finished with a double-digit tally but he was not at his best. He did not, however, blame the injury for his below par performance tonight.
"There's no frustration," he said. "I'm thinking about my body. There's a lot going through my mind right now and I'm trying to figure it out. I'll get it figured out. It's a tough situation right now due to the circumstances,
but I'll get it figured out. I'll tell you that."
Anthony finished with 15 points on 5 for 14 from the floor while Amar’e Stoudemire completed a double-double with 19 points and 14 boards. Landry Fields had 13 points and Tyson Chandler accumulated 11 and pulled down 9 rebounds.
Knicks were in the game during the first half but they froze in the second and only managed to drain 36 points after the interval. When Carmelo was inquired about the Knicks dismal performance after the break, he seemed pretty
clueless.
"I can't really put my finger on it right now. I can't figure it out. Last night, guys got going early and tonight we were waiting for it to come to us rather than go get it. We just couldn't figure it out."
Antawn Jamison led the Cavs with 15 points while Omri Casspi and Anthony Parker bundled 13 apiece. Centre Anderson Varejao had a double-double with 10 points and 16 boards.
The Cavs were hot from the long range, shooting 9-for-20 from outside the arc.
The scores were levelled at 57 apiece midway through the third frame however, the Cavs finished the frame with a 12-7 burst to ensure they held the upper hand going in the decisive frame, ahead by 5 points 69-64.
The Knicks failed to find baskets in the early phase of the last quarter, allowing the deficit to mount to 11 points, 80-69, midway through the frame. Nothing much changed even after that as the Knicks failed to make any inroads
and the gap never came down to single digits.
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