Carmelo hits the final jumper as the Knicks walk away with the win

The Knicks were up by 17 points with less than 8 minutes on the clock, but that still wasn’t enough for an easy win.

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Nov 30, 2016 at 9:20am PST

The Wolves needed just a minute to go on a 8-0 run and get back in the game, managing to tie it in the last minute. Kristaps Porzingis made a two points shot, followed by two made free throws on Karl-Anthony Towns‘s hands.

With 24 seconds left, and the score tied 104-104, the Knicks gave the ball to Carmelo Anthony who nailed an 18 footer from the right corner over Andrew Wiggins, with just 2.4 on the clock, to win the game, 106-104 and put the Knicks back at .500

“We felt if we got the ball to Melo, he would get us big shot. Just the confidence in Carmelo being a 10-time All-Star. That’s what those guys do.”

– Jeff Hornacek

This was Anthony’s second game winning shot in the last 4 games, and it came after the Knicks blew the 17 point lead right after Melo was put back into the game. In fact, Anthony finished with just 14 points and 4 rebounds shooting 5-16 from the field.

Porzingis had another hard-playing game as he led the Knicks with 29 points including 3 three pointers and added 8 rebounds.  On the other side, the 1st pick of the 2015 draft, Towns, scored 47 points – with 22 of them being made in the first quarter – and grabbed 18 rebounds. The two stars of last year’s draft befriended on draft night and kept in touch ever since. After the game, Porzingis congratulated Towns and wished him to stay healthy and continue to play like that.

Joakim Noah missed the game due to an ankle sprain and the Knicks are now 3-0 without him. Kyle O’Quinn started again and scored a couple of points, added 8 rebounds and 2 assists in 17 minutes.

Marshall Plumlee had another chance to play due to the starting center’s absence and finished with 4 points and 5 rebounds, for an 11 +/-.

Mindaugas Kuzminskas continues to impress by the game and had the highest +/- rating from the game, 17. Kuz played 20 minutes, scored 14 points (including 4 three pointers) shooting 5-9 from the field.

The Knicks return to the Garden on Friday night to play the Wolves again.