Hawks at Knicks
THE STORY: Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony finally got on the
court together Monday. The results weren’t so great. The New York Knicks
have some hope for the future with Lin directing the offense, but they
still need some work on the defensive end. Lin was torched by Deron
Williams in the loss to New Jersey on Monday. The Atlanta Hawks are
having the opposite problem, with the offense consistently unable to
keep pace. The stumbling Hawks have dropped seven of 10 this month while
putting up 86.2 points.
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, SportSouth (Hawks), MSG (Knicks)
ABOUT THE HAWKS (19-13): Atlanta could use the All-Star break to get
its shooting back together. The Hawks have scored more than 90 points
twice in the last 10 games and have been held to less than 80 in
dropping each of the last two. Atlanta came back from a 20-point deficit
in Chicago on Monday to cut the lead to five but then went the final
3:24 without a point in the 90-79 setback. Joe Johnson was injured late
Monday and will miss the final two games before the break. No one on
the team needs a rest more than the All-Star guard, who is shooting 17.2
percent (5 for 29) from 3-point range in the last five games.
ABOUT THE KNICKS (16-17):
New York dropped below .500 again with the 100-92 loss to the Nets and
have a trip to Miami looming on Thursday. The star has dimmed around
“Linsanity” a bit with losses in two of the last three but the early
returns with Anthony are good. The All-Star forward returned to the
lineup and had no trouble deferring and distributing, finishing with six
assists. The Knicks are also attempting to integrate Baron Davis and
J.R. Smith into the rotation.
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. The teams split four meetings last season, with New York taking the final two.
2. Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (knee) sat out Monday and is day-to-day.
3. Hawks forward Josh Smith has recorded a double-double in three straight games.