Broadway News
Knicks Split Back-To-Back Games
As the Knicks continue to try to find their way in the still-young season (though with only 66 games, we won't be able to call it that for much longer), there will be games like the one on Wednesday, and there will be games like the one on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the Knicks played host to the first-place Philadelphia 76ers, building commanding leads in the second half and holding on for a victory.
The next night, in Memphis, the Knicks came out lacking energy and any offensive firepower and were blown away by the Grizzlies, who were playing without Zach Randolph.
A split of the back-to-back games is hardly the end of the world for the Knicks, who are still above .500. Here's a quick recap of the two games:
Knicks 85, 76ers 79
The 76ers had won six-straight games coming into the Garden, but their third game in as many nights did them in as the Knicks built up a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter before hanging on for the victory.
Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points while collecting nine rebounds and five assists, while Amar'e Stoudamire added 20 points and 10 boards.
The Knicks received another solid performance from rookie Iman Shumpert, who scored 10 and added three assists, but Shumpert struggled in the fourth quarter, along with the entire Knicks offense, which did not score a basket in the last nine(!) minutes of the game.
Josh Harrelson scored 13 points off the bench on three 3-pointers, as the Knicks picked up their sixth victory on the season and fourth-straight win.
Grizzlies 94, Knicks 83
This game was bad from the start. The Knicks came out lethargic, Stoudamire picked up two fouls in the first two minutes, and the Knicks' shooting was horrendous as the team never really found itself in the game.
Worse yet, Anthony suffered injuries to both his non-shooting wrist and his ankle, though the extent of either injury is not yet known.
Shumpert had his worst game of the season for the Knicks, chucking up a whopping 20(!) shots and making just five of them. The only player who shot well was Bill Walker, who was 4-7 from beyond the arc off the bench.
Rudy Gay scored 26 points for the Grizzlies and O.J. Mayo added 18 off the bench. The Grizzlies extended their 11-point halftime lead in the third quarter, outscoring the Knicks 26-14 after the break.
As a team, the Knicks shot just 37% from the field. If they continue to play like this on the backside of two-night stands, they are going to be in trouble this season.
The team is now off for a night before traveling to Oklahoma City to take on Kevin Durant and the 10-2 Thunder.
Photo Credits: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images
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