Knicks at Pistons
THE STORY: Thanks to Carmelo Anthony, New York is finally carrying some momentum into Saturday's game at Detroit. Anthony scored 37 points, including the go-ahead 3-pointer with 15.9 seconds remaining, to give the Knicks a 99-96 road win over Washington on Friday. Anthony sustained an injury to his right hip late in the game. "I was hurt," he said. "I wasn’t going to try to drive at all. I knew I didn’t have any push off on my right leg." Anthony's big night saved the Knicks from the embarrassment of being the first team to lose to Washington this season. Detroit played without starting guards Rodney Stuckey (groin) and Ben Gordon (personal reasons) in Friday's 96-73 loss in Philadelphia, but Pistons coach Lawrence Frank didn't want to hear about it. "That’s no excuse," he said. "They just beat us." Detroit was down by eight points after three quarters before being outscored 32-17 in the fourth period.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), Fox Sports Detroit-Plus (Detroit)
ABOUT THE KNICKS (3-4): New York had dropped four of five going into Friday's game. After trailing by 16 points in the second quarter, the Knicks nearly let an eight-point fourth-quarter lead get away. Anthony, who is averaging 29.1 points, scored 10 in a row down the stretch. Amar'e Stoudemire is averaging 24 points in two games since returning from a sprained left ankle. The injury forced him to miss back-to-back home losses to Toronto and Charlotte.
ABOUT THE PISTONS (2-5): Brandon Knight made his career first start Friday because of the Pistons' backcourt injuries. He scored 10 points with nine rebounds, four assists and four turnovers in 38 minutes. Greg Monroe had 22 points and seven rebounds, but starters Austin Daye, Tayshaun Prince and Jonas Jerebko combined for just 19 points. The Pistons shot 36 percent and missed all 10 of their 3-point tries.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Anthony is averaging 19.4 points in 14 career games against Detroit.
2. Charlie Villanueva didn't play Friday even though the Pistons were shorthanded. Villanueva sat out a four-game suspension from the NBA to begin the season and has played in only two games, totaling 2:47.
3. The Pistons defeated the Knicks in their final matchup last season, but New York has won seven of the last 10 games against Detroit.