POWER OUTAGE
Shorthanded Knicks can't stay with Cavs to pull shocker
CLEVELAND — This had the makings of a Kristaps Miracle.
Carmelo Anthony rested and Kristaps Porzingis exploded. But it wasn’t enough down the stretch to pull off an upset of the Cavaliers as the Knicks limped to the finish with 12 fourthquarter points.
With the score deadlocked and 3:21 remaining, LeBron James scored six straight points and the Cavaliers knocked off the gritty Knicks, 9184, at Quicken Loans Arena.
It was still a Merry Kristaps for the Knicks’ 7foot3 Latvian rookie who finally broke out of his sevengame shooting slump. Porzingis scored 23 points with 13 rebounds and four assists, but didn’t have a point in the final period, and didn’t even take a shot until one second remained.
Porzingis finished 8of18 (4of5 from 3point range) after shooting 28.9 percent in the previous seven contests.
“I made four 3s, but I think I missed a lot of shots, midrange baskets, close to the basket,’’ Porzingis said.
“I got to be more aggressive at the end, maybe have more responsibility. As I grow as a player, I’ll have to be more important at the end.’’
After 30 games, the Knicks are 1416 heading into Christmas, but with hope Porzingis now is going to keep delivering.
“He had an aggressive mindset from the start, even when we are fully healthy,’’ Knicks coach Derek Fisher said. “We want him to be aggressive and take advantage of the opportunities when it’s there. Hopefully we can learn from this and use Kristaps more even when Melo’s back in the lineup and look for more balance so we won’t struggle down the stretch.’’
James finished with 24 points, five assists, nine rebounds and one profanity after the game. In his postgame oncourt interview, James said in comments heard on the publicaddress speaker, “We played like sht.’’
Perhaps looking ahead to their Christmas Day showdown in Oakland, Calif., against the indomitable Warriors, the Cavaliers were flat.
As Anthony rested his sprained left ankle, the Knicks had no closer — Porzingis’ next step in his progression. Fisher curiously left Porzingis on the bench until just 8:23 was left in the fourth quarter, just a touch too long.
Arron Affalo had his second poor outing, shooting just 6of17 for 16 points and committing a big turnover late when exKnick Iman Shumpert stripped him of the ball.
Anthony obviously was missed early, but in the Cavaliers’ two victories over the Knicks in November, Cleveland destroyed the club in the final period with Melo in the lineup.
“They take a lot of shots and when they’re not there, you find out why they’re so important in those fourth quarters and big moments,’’ Fisher said. “Those are the players who force the defenses to make adjustments and are good enough to get shots on their own.’’
Tied at 82, it came apart. Lance Thomas, starting for Anthony, threw away an inbounds intended for Porzingis, who slipped. It led to a fastbreak layup by James. Thomas, who finished with nine points (4of11), then missed on an offbalance runner. James netted two free throws the other way for an 8682 lead.
After Thomas missed another runner, the Knicks forced a turnover and Fisher called a timeout with 1:20 left to run a play. As is often the case after a Fisher timeout, it didn’t work out. Affalo missed the entire rim on a 3pointer. James clinched it on a driving dunk for an 8882 lead with 49 seconds left.
Porzingis said the Knicks showed “heart’’ but added, “they were better at the end. We couldn’t figure out way to finish out the game.’’