Knicks at 76ers
THE STORY: It seems like so long ago that the New York Knicks were locked in a free fall, intent on finishing the season below .500 and in seventh or eighth place in the Eastern Conference. Four straight wins later and the future is looking a lot brighter. The Philadelphia 76ers are feeling that heat at the moment as they struggle to get healthy for the playoffs. The Knicks will be looking to take over the No. 6 spot in the East when they visit the 76ers on Wednesday.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG, CSP
ABOUT THE 76ERS (40-38): Currently in sixth place, one-half game ahead of the Knicks, Philadelphia and New York are providing one half of the only real drama left in the East. The 76ers and the Knicks will end up playing either the Boston Celtics or the Miami Heat in the first round - neither of which are attractive options. If the season ended today, it would be Philadelphia traveling to Boston for Game One. The 76ers tested themselves against the Celtics on Tuesday and did not fare well, dropping a 99-82 decision at TD Garden. Philadelphia managed only 32 points in the second half while allowing the Celtics to shoot 53 percent from the floor. Andre Iguodala is dealing with a nagging knee injury and was held to 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting while Evan Turner scored 21 off the bench. Louis Williams was inactive due to a hamstring strain.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (39-38): New York would face the Heat if the season ended today, but at this point it would just like to win a fifth straight and keep looking forward. The Knicks had not won four straight since mid-December and had dropped six straight and nine of 10 prior to their recent surge. The explosive offense that the team envisioned when it traded for Carmelo Anthony in February has come around and a favorable schedule has allowed them to get their feet back under them. New York beat up on the Toronto Raptors, 131-118, on Tuesday, getting 28 points off the bench from Toney Douglas and 23 apiece from Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire.
WHO’S HOT/WHO’S NOT: Turner, who was getting the bulk of Williams’ minutes on Tuesday, made the most of his opportunity. The rookie swingman had not scored 20 or more points since Mar. 6. Anthony is averaging 31.5 points during New York’s winning streak.
KEY STATISTIC: The Knicks have been dominating on the offensive end, putting up an average of 121.8 points during their current surge. The 76ers are one of the better defensive teams in the league and have not allowed 100 points in any of their last five contests.
SEASON SERIES: Philadelphia took the first two meetings, winning at Madison Square Garden, 106-96, on Nov. 7 and picking up a 100-98 home win on Feb. 4. New York got one back on Feb. 6, earning a 117-103 home victory behind 41 points from Stoudemire and 25 from Landry Fields. The Knicks took three of four in the series during the 2009-10 campaign.
KEY INJURIES: NEW YORK: None. PHILADELPHIA: G Louis Williams (hamstring).
LAST WORD: “It’s going to be a big game (Wednesday) night. A very important game for us,” Stoudemire said. “We’re really trying to make a push to move up the standings. So Philly’s playing well, and we owe them boys.”