Playoff hopes dim as Knicks lose to Heat

A photo posted by New York Knicks 🏀 (@nyknicks) on Feb 28, 2016 at 5:38pm PST

The New York Knicks couldn’t repeat the performance they had against the Magic, and facing a winning record Miami Heat they dropped 98-81 at the Garden.

Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points and had 7 rebounds. He was the main offensive weapon and shot 9-24 from the field. Kurt Rambis addressed the fact that there is too much rely on the franchise player:

“We start relying on Carmelo too much. We don’t have to do that. It is too much pressure on him.”

– Kurt Rambis

New York trailed by double digits for most of the game and chants of “Let’s go Heat” could be heard in the arena at the start and at the end of the game.

“You’re home, you don’t want to hear that. I’m assuming they were all Miami Heat fans. I want to believe that. I want to think that. I don’t want to think it was New York Knicks fans. I was surprised, very surprised.”

– Carmelo Anthony

Arron Afflalo sat out due to a bruised right thigh. Robin Lopez dropped 14 points and 14 rebounds while Lance Thomas was the only other Knick who finished in double figures – 12 points.

Amar’e Stoudemire played his first game at the Garden since his trade to Dallas and was disappointed by the turn of the franchise.

“It’s hard for me to watch from the outside looking in because I was so involved with creating a positive atmosphere around the Knicks, but now it seems that it went the opposite way.”

– Amar’e Stoudemire

Stoudemire scored 8 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in his return.

The Knicks will take on the 32-28 Portland Trail-Blazers on Tuesday night, at home.