Carmelo Anthony did not play in the overtime thriller against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before heading into the game, the New York Knicks were 0-4 when Anthony is out. With Lance Thomas back in the lineup after missing three consecutive games, the Knicks fought desperately to avoid a three-game losing streak, but to no avail. The Knicks are now 0-5 without Anthony and hold a 22-25 overall record, falling farther and farther behind the .500 mark.
Despite a heartbreaking loss after impressively competing with the best one-two punch in the league, it’s difficult to deny the Knicks spirited play. Both teams were neck and neck consistently throughout three quarters, until Kristaps Porzingis and company scored eight straight points in the fourth quarter, catapulting an 11-point lead with more than nine minutes to play.
Oklahoma City quickly closed the gap as rookie Cameron Payne flexed his muscle, but all momentum shifted to the Knicks down the stretch, as Derrick Williams emphatically slammed it down to cap a 113-109 lead with less than a minute left. With the game tied at 113 and the Knicks with the last possession, a struggling Arron Afflalo’s turnaround jumper rattled in and out of the basket, sending the game to overtime, where the Knicks could not prevail.
Afflalo's Woes Continue
Afflalo finished with 16 points on an abysmal 6-of-21 shooting, drawing comparisons to arguably the most beloved Knick of all time, John Starks. He has only scored 15 points in his last two games, in which he’s played 61 minutes, including going 0-for-4 in 27 minutes with no points against the Los Angeles Clippers. His success is vital to the Knicks victories.
As reported by Chris Herring of the Wall Street Journal, the Knicks are 14-4 when Afflalo shoots better than 30 percent from three-point range, and 3-14 when finishing below that. Tonight, he was 1-of-5 from behind the arc. His inconsistencies have become problematic.
Despite his struggles, Afflalo firmly believes the Knicks are a playoff team as he addressed the media during the post-game. “If we don’t make the playoffs this year, we belong in the playoffs,” he said, speaking to the grit the Knicks demonstrated in the loss.
Players of the Game
On a more optimistic note, in his return from a knee injury, Thomas scored 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting, reminding everyone why his presence on the floor was sorely missed.
Langston Galloway also continued to prove his worth, skillfully running the offense for 33 minutes, while starting point guard Jose Calderon saw only 22 minutes of playing time. Galloway led the team with 22 points shooting 4-of-6 from downtown, endowing himself with the clutch gene. Williams, who has quickly become a fan favorite beside Porzingis, came off the bench, adding 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Despite a collective effort from the Knicks, Kevin Durant’s season-high 44 points, including seven in overtime, was too much to overcome. He also added 14 rebounds to another packed stat line.
Fellow All-Star Russell Westbrook added 30 points, 10 assists, and eight rebounds for the victory. Big man Steven Adams did return to the lineup today after missing their previous game with a sprained right elbow, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds.
On to the Next One
The Thunder improve to 34-13 fortifying their stronghold over the third seed in the Western conference. They face the Minnesota Timberwolves Wednesday evening on the road.
The Knicks will take the next day off as they travel to Toronto to take on the second-seeded Toronto Raptors, hoping for at least one win in their upcoming stretch of difficult matchups, including the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. With a little less than half a season to play, whether or not the Knicks will be a playoff team is difficult to foreshadow, but will quickly be determined.