Knicks beat the Pistons but are losing the lottery

Carmelo Anthony returned to the action after missing a couple of games and scored 21 points while shooting 8-15 from the field, in Knicks’ 109-95 victory over the Pistons at the Garden.

With the win, the Knicks cut a 5 game losing streak that took them all the way to the lottery behind Sixers and Magic, while the Pistons lost their fourth straight game.

Derrick Rose led New York with 27 points and 6 assists, Kristaps Porzingis seconded him with 25 buckets and 8 boards and Willy Hernangomez dropped 15.

The Knicks were up by 5 points at halftime but as the game moved into the third act, they went on a 15-0 run that put them up 79-59, keeping Detroit scoreless for almost seven minutes.

“You’ve just got to take these wins and roll with them. I know that the feeling that we have right now is good, but we’ve just got to go out there and finish the season strong, take it game by game.” [Source]

– Derrick Rose

With this win, the Knicks keep mathematical chances for the playoffs which would have been gone in case of a loss.

However, they have damaged their situation at the other end where they could improve their draft pick in July if they manage to achieve the 4th worse NBA record. Technically, a much easier job than making it as the 8th seed.

However, coach Jeff Hornacek believes that winning games is the better way of getting into the summer.

“We don’t want to end the season on a really horrible note and take that into the summer.”

Carmelo Anthony can’t cope with the idea of playing to lose either.

“It’s hard to come into a game saying we’re going to try to lose. I don’t know how you do that. I honestly don’t.”

Everything else besides, the Knicks got one of the nicest win of the season in an NCAA-like atmosphere. They delivered equally at both ends of the floor, shooting 60 percent in the first half, then putting up a strong defense in the second.

On Wednesday night, New York will host Miami.