Knicks stop Hornets 110-107 as Anthony nails the game winner

Kristaps Porzingis is back! After struggling in earlier games with his shooting, last night he shot 8-11 including 2-4 from behind the arc for a total of 18 points.

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Jan 27, 2017 at 6:16pm PST

Carmelo Anthony, who is going through a lot of trade rumors, scored the same and added 11 rebounds. Anthony got a fair share of boos before the tip-off but in the end he nailed a crucial two point jumper with 13 seconds left to play that put the game in the books; a solid 110-107 win against a payoff team.

Melo was also hit a day before the game with the news that he won’t take part in the All Star Game this year. This is the first time since 2009 he wasn’t selected.

“I’m going to enjoy this seven-day break. I don’t know what I’m going to do. But I’m going to enjoy it.”

Kemba Walker on the other hand, was selected an All Star for the first time. Walker scored 31 points and collected 10 rebounds for Charlotte while Marvin Williams dropped 17.

After playing his best game of the season against Dallas the previous game, Courtney Lee ignited the Knicks comeback late in the fourth quarter. Trailing by four points with just over 4 minutes on the clock, Lee nailed a 3 pointer that would put New York on a 12-2 run which led them to the victory. Lee finished with 16 points, 9 of them in the fourth, shooting 7-12 from the field.

Derrick Rose scored 13 points before leaving the game in the third quarter. Rose landed on Kemba Walker’s foot and sprained his ankle. He had not returned to the game but the x-rays turned  negative.

Brandon Jennings led the bench with 15 points, including a 3 pointer from the corner with 1:19 on the clock, off Lee’s assist, to increase the Knicks lead at 105-101. Kyle O’Quinn followed with 10 and added 7 rebounds.

“These guys believe they can get in the playoffs. It’s going to be tough. There are distractions out there, but they are focused on themselves.”

– Jeff Hornacek

With this victory the Knicks not only won the series 2-1 to give them the advantage in case of a tie-breaker, but also puts them just two games behind the 8th seed Chicago Bulls.