Knicks at Nets
THE STORY: The New York Knicks and Carmelo Anthony may be finding their rhythm at just the right time. After an extended getting-to-you-know period, Anthony and his new teammates have won five straight to reclaim the No. 6 seed in the East from Philadelphia by one-half game. New York will look to continue the momentum and complete a four-game season sweep against the visiting New Jersey Nets on Friday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, YES
ABOUT THE NETS (24-54): New Jersey was hoping to use the end of the season to build momentum towards 2011-12 with All-Star point guard Deron Williams, but the Nets are limping to the finish line. New Jersey has lost seven of eight and 11 of 13 after an encouraging four-game winning streak. Williams has missed nine of the last 15 with a nagging wrist injury, including Wednesday’s 116-109 loss at Detroit. Brook Lopez scored a career-high 39 points but none in the final 10 minutes, and he couldn’t prevent the Pistons from shooting 55 percent from the floor and drain 29-of-32 free throws.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (40-38): Despite its recent surge, New York will still be stuck with playing either Boston or Miami in the first round. However, the Knicks will certainly be a different team in the postseason than the one that lost six straight and nine of 10, including losses to six teams with losing records. New York almost blew a 19-point lead Wednesday at Philadelphia but held on for a 97-92 victory, showing that it could compete and even win a grind-it-out game against a quality foe. It was the Knicks’ seventh win when scoring fewer than 100 points, and it was in great contrast to their 131-118 win over Toronto in their previous game. Anthony had 31 points and 11 rebounds and Toney Douglas hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 1:47 left against the Sixers. The game, played at playoff intensity, didn’t come without a price. Amar’e Stoudemire scored 18 points but injured an ankle and is questionable for the Nets. Chauncey Billups also went down in the third quarter with a bruised right thigh and didn’t return.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Anthony is averaging 31.4 points on 52-percent shooting during the winning streak, including 15 of 29 from 3-point range. He’s also chipping in nine rebounds. Lopez has taken advantage of the center-less Knicks by averaging 27 points – his highest average vs. any opponent this season - on 54.4-percent shooting in three games.
KEY STATISTIC: The Knicks have reached the 40-win plateau for the first time since the 2000-01 season (48-34) and need two more wins in their final four games to clinch their first winning season since that season.
SEASON SERIES: The Knicks have won the first three games of the seasons series, including last week’s 120-116 decision at Madison Square Garden. Anthony scored 39 and Billups 33 for the Knicks, while Lopez tallied 26 and Williams 22, eight rebounds and eight assists for the Nets. In three games against the Nets this season, Anthony is averaging 34.7 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
KEY INJURIES: NEW JERSEY: G Deron Williams (right wrist); G Anthony Morrow (knee); F Kris Humphries (ankle); G Sundiata Gaines (right hip); F Damion James (right foot); G Ben Uzoh (knee). NEW YORK: F Amar’e Stoudemire (left ankle); G Chauncey Billups (right thigh); G Andy Rautins (knee).
LAST WORD: “It's rising, it's rising, I can tell you that.” – Anthony on Knicks’ confidence.