Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks will seek a third straight victory out west when they take on the Phoenix Suns.
- New York Knicks (14-10)
- Phoenix Suns (7-17)
- NBA, Tuesday, Dec. 13, 9 p.m. ET, MSG Network
- Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, AZ
The question of the night will be, “Can the New York Knicks climb to five games over the magical .500 mark?”
Magical, is, of course, an overstatement. To these Knickerbockers, however, it the term may fit.
Under a Derek Fisher a season ago, New York battled with the average mark for most of the first half of the season. They’d climb to the .500 mark, and perhaps a bit over, only to fall flat time and again. A win in Phoenix against the Suns would put New York at 15-10, a record any Knick fan would have signed up for two months ago.
It’s the first time this organization has seen four games above since the end of the 2012-13 season.
Should they win, they would have won their third straight on this five-game road trip. Last Friday the Knicks took out the Sacramento Kings while Sunday saw them edge the Los Angeles Lakers.
Despite only getting 13 points from Carmelo Anthony two nights ago, the captain still understands what’s at stake when it comes to a team environment, via Stats LLC:
“We’re just trusting one another and believing in what we’re doing, in our schemes, defensively and offensively,” Anthony explained. “Guys are feeling confident when they get the ball to make plays for themselves and others. We need that as a team. We need that confidence.”
This night will mark the first time Jeff Hornacek returns as an NBA head coach to the organization who first gave him his coaching shot. Hornacek coached the Suns to a 101-112 record in two-plus seasons.
Opening tip-off comes your way at 9 p.m. ET and can be seen on MSG Network (after the New York Rangers game concludes). MSG 2 will carry the start of the game.
Can Hornacek's #Knicks make it three straight on the road against his former team?
We're in Phoenix tonight at 8:30P on MSG. #KNICKSonMSG pic.twitter.com/BWBm4mKUBJ
— MSG Networks (@MSGNetworks) December 13, 2016
Get the ? KP! #NYKvsPHX #Knicks pic.twitter.com/Qfm13QDNPv
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 14, 2016
.@JoakimNoah on how the #Knicks will defend the Suns pick-and-roll attack. #NYKvsPHX pic.twitter.com/xsjJnoMd6B
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 13, 2016
Head coach Jeff Hornacek discusses his return to Phoenix at this morning’s shootaround. #NYKvsPHX #Knicks pic.twitter.com/esR2fFsEie
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) December 13, 2016
