Anthony, Knicks hold off Indy’s late charge for ‘W’
INDIANAPOLIS — How big was this late save? Coach Jeff Hornacek said another last-second loss could have spelled the end.
Two days after his potential game-winning 3-pointer went in and out against Phoenix, Carmelo Anthony responded. He sank a gigantic 14-foot left-baseline jumper over Jeff Teague with 23 seconds remaining, breaking a tie and sending the Knicks to a 109-103 triumph over the Pacers .
The Knicks led by 17 points in the third and were on the verge of blowing a 15-point fourth-quarter lead.
“We’ve been losing close games and we lose another one like that it is tough and probably would have quit, called it a year probably,” Hornacek said. “You never know how guys are going to respond.”
Indeed, the Knicks’ three previous defeats each came on the last possession, losing by a combined six points.
“S--t, the three losses, all of them were devastating,’’ Derrick Rose said. “This would’ve been another one. It’s making us a better team. Maybe we’re figuring it out.’’
Anthony had one more bullet left in his holster to save the night after a successful pick-and-roll with Rose, who got him the ball on mismatch vs. Teague after the Pacers switched.
“I knew if they switched, all I had to do it was get a little bit of space and just an eyesight of the rim and shoot over Teague,’’ Anthony said.
The 11th-place Knicks (20-26) moved within 2 ¹/2 games of No. 8 Chicago. They have shown some semblance of life the past five days — 2-2 in their last four games, with both losses coming on the final possession.
“It’s a great feeling,” Anthony said. “I think we should be proud of ourselves the way we bounced back, come on the road and get a big win like this.’’
Anthony finished with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including another key late bucket — a post-up with 1:07 left.
Anthony’s complementary star was rookie reserve center Willy Hernangomez, who got the Knicks back in the game with a stirring second quarter and finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 24 minutes.
“I love when he is out there,’’ Rose said. “He’s been playing professional ball since he was 17. He listens, has no ego and great character.’’
On the flip side, Kristaps Porzingis, Hernangomez’s best friend, is amid a trying time, though he claimed his Achilles tendinitis wasn’t a factor in his poor night. Porzingis fouled out with one minute left after the slumping 7-foot-3 Latvian shot just 3-of-11 for eight points. He also had three turnovers. His first quarter was probably the worst period he has played in the NBA but he bounced back to hit two straight 3-pointers early in the third quarter when the Knicks expanded the lead to 17.
“It wasn’t affecting me,’’ said Porzingis. “My shot was just flat. I have to find my rhythm.’’
Rose, who finished with 20 points and six assists, got rattled down the stretch as the Pacers surged. Rose lit up the officials when his driving shot was blocked off the backboard with 2:35 left and he thought it was goaltending. Rose failed to get back on defense in time as he carried on — his frustration level on not getting calls rising sharply.
“‘You could see it on the third level,’’ said Rose. “Everybody saw it. You have to ask the refs that. They need to get interviewed.”
It looked like the Knicks would fold completely after Paul George (31 points) made two free throws after Anthony fouled him foolishly away from the ball to tie the score at 103 with 40 seconds to go.
“Too aggressive on Paul,’’ Anthony said. “I shouldn’t have fouled him.”
Anthony answered the call finally after weeks of shooting fourth-quarter blanks as the Knicks glided ahead by two, 105103. Indiana’s Myles Turner then bobbled a down-low pass and the ball went out of bounds off his foot, giving the Knicks the ball with 16 seconds left. Courtney Lee sealed it with two free throws to finish with 14 points.
“We can’t be tentative the last six minutes of a game, we still have to attack,’’ Hornacek said. “But they’re not dropping their heads. They’re frustrated they’re losing but still doing the right things and playing hard.’’