Buzz kills
Losses pile up in the final seconds
WASHINGTON — Eight is enough to ruin a Knicks’ season.
That’s how many f inal-possession losses have occurred since Dec. 13 — six of the crushers coming in January.
The latest happened in a four-hour, four-overtime classic Sunday in Atlanta — the franchise’s longest game since 1951. The NBA’s 2-minute report added insult to injury, admitting Anthony was fouled by Paul Millsap on his game-tying bucket with 2.6 seconds left in regulation and should have gone to the freethrow line for the possible game-winning point.
The connective tissue in the heartbreaking losses is The Big 3 — Anthony, Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis — have each taken turns failing them when it counted most. The first of the eight occurred in Phoenix in overtime, when the Knicks were a season-high four games over .500.
They’ve lost three to Atlanta and a pair to the Suns. It’s been enough agony for Phil Jackson to investigate trading Anthony to the Clippers, Celtics or Cavaliers.
Tuesday, the Knicks (21-28) face the red-hot Wizards, whose last-second victory over the Knicks was the most unique — as their assistant coach, Sidney Lowe, became the defensive stopper. The Knicks go into Verizon Center facing a Wizards club that is 11-4 in January. This one may not even get to a final possession.
To the right is a look at the tough-to-take losses:
Dec. 13: at Phoenix, 113-111 OT
Anthony was a horrific 3-of-15 and Porzingis, who finished with 34 points, missed a last-second shot in regulation after Hornacek played Ron Baker too long in the final period.
Dec. 28: at Atlanta, 100-97 OT
Anthony got kicked out for a forearm to Thabo Sefolosha before Porzingis got fouled at the 3-point line down three with 3.6 seconds left. He missed the first free throw.
Jan. 4: vs. Milwaukee, 105-104
Giannis Antetokounmpo sank the buzzer beater over Lance Thomas after dribbling about five times and committing, the NBA said, a 5-second violation. The Greek Freak’s basket was set up by Rose fumbling an inbounds pass.
Jan. 11: at Philadelphia, 98-97
Worst of the bunch as the Knicks made T.J. McConnell famous. The Arizona product hit the 12-foot buzzer beater in a fast-break scramble, igniting bedlam. Anthony was out of position after shifting to double Joel Embiid and reacting as if in quicksand. The fastbreak was set up by sore-legged Porzingis’ airball as the Knicks blew a 10-point lead in final 2:30.
Jan. 16: vs. Atlanta, 108-107
Rose failed to close out fast enough on Dennis Schroder’s 3-pointer with 22 seconds left on MLK Day. Hornacek ripped Rose for lacking urgency on the play and Rose said he thought Schroder was going to drive. The Knicks had three point-blank attempts in final ticks, including a 6-footer by Anthony.
Jan. 19: vs. Washington, 113-110
Courtney Lee mistook Otto Porter for an old, bald, rotund coach. On the final play, Anthony drove and kicked to Lee in the deep left-corner. The club needed a 3-pointer and Lee drove in the dying seconds instead of hoisting. Replays confirmed Lee’s alibi. Lowe had gone onto the court, shouting at Lee, pretending to be a help defender. “I thought it was one of their players,’’ Lee said.
Jan. 21: vs. Phoenix, 107-105
Rose again didn’t close out, this time on Eric Bledsoe, who drilled a game-winning 3-pointer before Anthony’s trey rimmed out at the buzzer.
Jan. 29: at Hawks 142-139 4OT
Anthony scored 45, but fouled out. Lee, after a game-extending trey to bring on the third OT, couldn’t deliver a fifth OT, clanking two lastsecond treys.