Anthony excited to return to N.Y.

By The Associated Press

Carmelo Anthony is coming to Kristaps Porzingis’ house Saturday night.

Three months after the Knicks traded Anthony to Oklahoma City, their former All-Star has been quickly forgotten by excited fans.

Porzingis is playing nearly as well as Anthony ever did in New York and seems to enjoy unyielding support from both fans and the front office.

The Knicks (15-13) welcome Anthony back to Madison Square Garden Saturday, trying to extend their surprising start.

Unlike team management, Porzingis didn’t want his friend to leave. “Well obviously, I would love to have had him here to continue to learn from him,” Porzingis said. “But without him this year I’ve had more of an opportunity. I am featured more, which is normal.”

Anthony said he was looking forward to playing on the floor he called home for sixplus seasons regardless.

“I’m excited to go back and play in the Garden,” Anthony said. “Play in front of those fans. Play in front of my family, my friends. But at the end of the day, it’s business to me.

“I got a different feeling with New York. A different relationship, different bond with the city, with the fans, with the people. It’s a little bit special for me”

Celtics

Guard Gordon Hayward is open to playing this season, but said Friday it will depend on how fast he is able to heal and show progress as he works his way back from a broken left ankle. Hayward was at TD Garden for Boston’s matchup with Utah, the team he left this past summer in free agency after seven seasons to sign a four-year, $128 million contract with the Celtics. He was injured in Boston’s season opener at Cleveland. “My mind is open to that,” Hayward said of the possibility of returning to game action before season’s end. “I’m trying to get back as fast as I can. It all depends on how I heal, and taking it dayby-day, goal by goal. We’ll see what happens.”

Elsewhere

Longtime NBA referee Monty McCutchen is the league’s new vice president and head of referee development and training. McCutchen replaces Bob Delaney, who stepped down in October after 30 years with the NBA. McCutchen, 51, spent 25 years as a referee. He worked more than 1,400 games in the regular season and 169 more in the playoffs, including 16 in the NBA Finals.