The New York Knicks beat the Spurs on Sunday afternoon at Madison Square Garden. Like this week couldn’t get any stranger.
- New York Knicks 94 (23-33)
- San Antonio Spurs 90 (41-13)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
*Seinfeld voice* What’s the deal with the New York Knicks? They just beat the San Antonio Spurs. The team with the second-best record in the NBA. That just happened.
Outside of Kawhi Leonard (36 points, 13-27 FG), the Spurs had only two other players who scored in double-figures. As great as the Knicks defense was on Sunday (all of this is true), they won because of the second half heroics of Carmelo Anthony. Entering Sunday’s contest, Anthony had the lowest scoring average of his career against any team against the Spurs (20.3 points per game in 32 games).
The nine-time All-Star started the game slowly scoring just four points on 2 of 5 shooting in the first 24 minutes and it looked like it was going to be another tough one. Melo completely turned things around in the second half, dropping 21 points on 7 of 16 shooting. Anthony’s anticipated head-to-head battle with Leonard was a let-down as Danny Green covered him for most of the contest.
With this basket, Carmelo Anthony passes Charles Barkley for 25th on the all-time scoring list. pic.twitter.com/KHEvQk7giE
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) February 12, 2017
If the outcome of the game wasn’t strange enough for you, how about what was going on in the stands?
Owner James Dolan turned his team’s Sunday afternoon game against the heavily favored Spurs into a reunion. An embarrassing one. Two days after Charles Oakley was banned from Madison Square Garden, former Knick Latrell Sprewell returned following a 13-year absence and a public tirade against the reviled billionaire.
Dolan made a point during his radio interview with Michael Kay to say that the Knicks had a good relationship with all of their former players. Oakley was the exception. This was clearly Dolan just pouring it on.
That’s a Sunday win!! #NYKvsSAS #Knicks pic.twitter.com/YCI0Vhx3z9
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
.@carmeloanthony buries the midrange bucket & the #Knicks lead 92-86! #NYKvsSAS pic.twitter.com/wiKyNqFh3k
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
.@carmeloanthony’s 3-pointer gives the #Knicks an 86-81 lead! #NYKvsSAS
⏰ 2:44 4Q pic.twitter.com/gfYieb22qY
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
#Knicks 80 Spurs 75
5:00 to go in the 4th…#NYKvsSAS pic.twitter.com/OQWhilqyMN
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
#Knicks have the lead heading into the 4th! @carmeloanthony: 15p@kporzee: 3b#NYKvsSAS pic.twitter.com/nVlGLwUcXN
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
With this basket, Carmelo Anthony passes Charles Barkley for 25th on the all-time scoring list. pic.twitter.com/KHEvQk7giE
— NBA.com/Stats (@nbastats) February 12, 2017
First half complete here @TheGarden! #NYKvsSAS@drose: 12p@kporzee: 9p@willyhg94: 5r pic.twitter.com/g5JYuKnZCW
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
REPLAY: @kporzee says ? #NYKvsSAS #Knicks pic.twitter.com/iHezbO8q4W
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
#Knicks legend, Bill Bradley, in attendance @TheGarden! #NYK70 pic.twitter.com/6GhLL6AJsB
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
Welcome back Bernard King and Larry Johnson to @TheGarden! #NYK70 pic.twitter.com/FwRyk4sFE6
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
?at 26-26 in the 2Q. #NYKvsSAS #Knicks pic.twitter.com/V7YlKLtBBf
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
End of 1Q. #NYKvsSAS #Knicks@carmeloanthony: 4p pic.twitter.com/7Q9xQBQEox
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
Spree in the house! #NYK70 pic.twitter.com/HLQCJz341J
— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
#Knicks starters:
2️⃣5️⃣ @drose
5️⃣ @CourtneyLee2211
7️⃣ @carmeloanthony
6️⃣ @kporzee
1️⃣4️⃣ @willyhg94 #NYKvsSAS pic.twitter.com/35Zq3PsYrk— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) February 12, 2017
