In the New York Knicks 118-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Saturday night, Carmelo Anthony‘s star limitations hurt the squad late.
- New York Knicks 107 (3-6)
- Toronto Raptors 118 (7-2)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Canada
In the end, New York’s play wasn’t good enough to keep up with one of the East’s very best. The largest lead of the game, by either team, came late in the fourth quarter when the Raptors went ahead by seven. The final score of 118-107 eventually turned into the largest lead by either squad.
The absolute key possession came with just over four minutes to go in the contest. After Derrick Rose tied the game on a cut down the lane, the Knicks captain couldn’t get it done on the defensive end of the floor.
Carmelo Anthony‘s man, Norman Powell, took a baseline action route to the weak corner and Melo paid very little attention to him. The reason for this was due to the NBA’s leading scorer, DeMar DeRozan, currently in possession of the ball and help might have been needed.
However, the result was disastrous. Melo closed hard on Powell and couldn’t even come close to containing the baseline drive:
An example of Carmelo Anthony's limitations. The #Knicks fight hard and tie the game up yet Melo can't contain his man along the perimeter. pic.twitter.com/D5NrwXu5Ku
— Elite Sports NY (@EliteSportsNY) November 13, 2016
To make matters worse, young Kristaps Porzingis also didn’t do his job defensively. He needed to stop Powell’s momentum once he beat Melo red-handed.
From that point on, the Knicks could never get back in front. The following possession featured an Anthony missed three and the rest was history.
Obviously, this single possession isn’t the only reason the Knickerbockers failed in Toronto. Never can an NBA game be boiled to one solitary moment.
It’s extremely disheartening, though.
New York scratched, clawed, and fought their way to a tie ballgame, and when that one phenomenal defensive effort was needed to provide the Knicks a chance at the lead, Melo and KP failed to get the job done.
If we’re being completely honest, Melo cannot keep up with the quicker small forwards in the league anymore. It’s a cruel reality this team must face.
Anthony finished with 31 points on 10-of-21 from the floor. Offensively, the Knicks star was terrific (four assists, six rebounds). Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis were each close behind with 21 points.
For Toronto, DeRozan led the way with 33 points.
The Knicks fall to 3-6 on the season and will take Sunday off before returning to Madison Square Garden to host the Dallas Mavericks.
.@carmeloanthony: "Things that are in our control… we need to get better at." #NYKvsTOR #Knicks pic.twitter.com/rRD5AZ36BY
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2016
.@kporzee: "Obviously we could have played better, we could of done things better. But I think we grew as a team again." #NYKvsTOR #Knicks pic.twitter.com/bf9Ua7scL9
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2016
"Porzingis power!" #NYKvsTOR #Knicks pic.twitter.com/XvkPhH3gpn
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2016
.@carmeloanthony on ? with 29p! 2:28 left in 3Q. #NYKvsTOR #Knicks pic.twitter.com/XskCShfMaO
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2016
Take a look at the first half courtside highlights! #NYKvsTOR #Knicks pic.twitter.com/HxSJmTknJD
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2016
.@brandonjennings ➡️ @kporzee for the reverse slam! #NYKvsTOR #Knicks pic.twitter.com/YhKbK0Fgdd
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) November 13, 2016
DeMar's 33 & solid performances from Kyle, Norm & Bebe help T.O. improve to 7-2. #HuskiesNight
Stats: https://t.co/NMAJgry0Tk pic.twitter.com/1CE8nctFC1
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 13, 2016
They don't call him Long Weeknd for nothing. #RTZ https://t.co/u04g1i9aR7
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 13, 2016
First Huskies field goal in 25,431 days. #HuskiesNight #RTZ https://t.co/BjByxFnrdO
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) November 13, 2016