KNICKS STUMBLE
Back in 8th with loss to Derrick-less Bulls
Fall in rematch with Bulls, face Bucks in crucial game tonight:
CHICAGO — There was no late-game magic from Carmelo Anthony on this night. The hole the Knicks dug for themselves against the Derrick Rose-less Bulls was too deep.
And now the fun really begins.
The Bulls’ 98-86 victory Tuesday made the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference that much tighter heading into the Knicks’ crucial meeting with the Bucks in Milwaukee on Wednesday.
It was an all-around lost night for the Knicks, who fell to 29-28 and back into eighth place in the conference. Boston won in Miami and is now four games ahead of Mike Woodson’s club for first place in the Atlantic Division. Philadelphia won at New Jersey and moved back into seventh place overall in the Eastern Conference.
More importantly, the Knicks are now a game ahead of Milwaukee for the final playoff spot, and a Bucks win Wednesday would give Milwaukee the season series and sole possession of eighth place.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 29 points on 11-for-19 shooting while the rest of his teammates were 20-for-54. J.R. Smith scored 14 off the bench, Iman Shumpert, who was in foul trouble all night, added 12 and Tyson Chandler finished with 10 points and 15 rebounds. Richard Hamilton scored 18 of his 20 points in the third quarter, Luol Deng scored 18 and Carlos Boozer had 10 points and eight rebounds as Chicago improved to 44-14.
Chicago outscored the Knicks 25-10 in the second quarter to take control of the game and held a lead for lead for the final 32 minutes. The Bulls’ lead was 72-62 entering the fourth, but the Knicks never threatened as Kyle Korver completed a three-point play and then buried a three-pointer to make it 92-77 with 3:26 left.
The Knicks overcame a 10-point deficit with that much time left on Sunday to force overtime against Chicago. But Korver's jumper made it a 12-point game and the Knicks were finished.
A 10-point second quarter put the Knicks behind 47-35 at halftime. It was the type of 12-minute stretch that underscores the Knicks’ need for Amar’e Stoudemire, who has missed eight straight games with a back injury. Anthony can’t carry the load all the time, and this game was a perfect example of the Knicks being unable to function when Woodson tries to rest Anthony, the team’s leading scorer.
The Knicks’ bench went a combined 2-for-12 in the half, with Steve Novak going 0-for-4. Meanwhile, Chicago’s reserves scored 20 first-half points, including seven from third-string point guard John Lucas III.
Lucas was pressed into action with Rose missing his 23rd game. Rose injured his ankle in Sunday’s overtime loss to Knicks after missing Chicago’s previous 12 games with a groin injury.
The Bulls have managed to retain the top seed in the Eastern Conference despite the league’s reigning MVP missing substantial time.
“Hopefully he comes back sooner than later,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
With Rose hurt again, the Bulls could be a vulnerable first-round opponent. The Knicks, who have lost both meetings to current No. 2 seed Miami this season, won’t admit it but they would prefer to draw Chicago in the playoffs.
A lot of that has to do with the Knicks’ best player finally regaining his form. After battling through injuries all season and struggling to adjust to Mike D’antoni’s point-guard oriented system, Anthony has been at the top of his game since Woodson became head coach.
Anthony scored a season-high 43 points in Sunday’s win, including the game-tying three-pointer in regulation and the game-winning three in overtime. He scored 11 first-quarter points Tuesday night and had 20 entering the fourth quarter. He has scored at least 19 points in each of the Knicks’ last eight games.
Hamilton also had 20 going into the final period after scoring 18 in the third. Although the Knicks got to within 53-50, Chicago entered the fourth leading 72-62.