Win over Knicks good to the last shot
PHILADELPHIA >> Justin Anderson gave Carmelo Anthony fits by playing with the type of grit that Philadelphia fans love. Even Anthony complimented him.
Anderson also made the go-ahead basket with 24.3 seconds left and matched his career high with 19 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 105102 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night.
Acquired from Dallas last week in the deal that sent Nerlens Noel to the Mavericks, Anderson hit his first seven shots and forced Anthony into 5-for-18 shooting.
“Any time you come into a city as passionate as Philadelphia and you come on the court, you want to please,” Philadelphia coach Brett Brown said. “That’s a pretty good introduction to our program.”
The fans’ response to Anderson built from polite applause to loud cheers as he produced offensively and defensively.
“These guys, they play so hard,” Anderson said. “It’s something that’s admirable. You feel like you’re letting them down if you don’t play just as hard, if not harder.”
The stout, 6-foot-6 Anderson drew Anthony and was unfazed guarding one of the NBA’s top stars. “I don’t back down from anyone,” he said.
The two received technicals in the third quarter when they got face to and exchanged words.
“He was feeling good today,” Anthony said. “I like that though. I’d rather somebody do that than not show any fight out there. He showed some fight. He battled, he competed and I respect that.”
Dario Saric had 12 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter, and Robert Covington added 16 points. The 76ers snapped a three-game losing streak, winning their first game since announcing Wednesday that Joel Embiid was done for the season with a knee injury.
“Sometimes people say we don’t have the main players on our team,” said Saric, who also had 10 rebounds. “I don’t like when people say, ‘You guys are face finished without those guys.’ Because of that, I try to push my teammates to do a better job, and today we did that.”
Lance Thomas had a season-high 21 points for the Knicks. They began the day four games back of Detroit for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Anderson gave the 76ers a 103-102 lead with 24.3 seconds left with a short jumper after a feed from Saric. Derrick Rose turned the ball over on New York’s next possession. The 76ers gave it right back, coming out of a timeout by turning the ball over on the inbounds play.
But Anthony’s go-ahead attempt from 15 feet rimmed out and Thomas couldn’t convert the follow.
Justin Anderson’s
was the difference. did everything
Dario Saric
right.
Ron Baker Carmelo Anthony
many big was overmatched. missed too shots. defense