Without Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose, The Knicks won their fifth game in March, Hornacek wants his team to play like Miami.
- New York Knicks 98 (29-48)
- Miami Heat 94 (37-39)
- NBA, Final, Box Score
- American Airlines Arena, Miami, Florida
The New York Knicks team without Carmelo Anthony and Derrick Rose gave the organization something to smile about after defeating Miami Heat. However, this meaningless win only hurt their chances of getting the best player in the draft.
Before this game, New York was tied in the NBA for the fourth worse record. Now, they are alone have the sixth-worst record.
Courtney Lee led the Knicks with 10 points in the first quarter. New York took an early 33–29 lead. The Knicks shot 45 percent and held Miami to under a 30 point quarter.
Kristaps Porzingis help keep their lead in the second quarter. Porzingis headed to halftime with 14 points. Knicks had a 4 point lead at the half. The Knicks was not thinking about tank mode against Miami. Porzingis and Lee combined for 44 points as they put away the Heat
Knick of the Night: Kristaps Porzingis
Porzingis has been playing great basketball over the last five games. He’s averaging 19.4 points and 7.4 rebounds. He put up 22 points and eight rebounds against Miami.
Stat of the night: Miami Heat Shooting Statistics
Miami shot 41 percent from the field and 27 percent from the three point line.
Other than the basketball court, Jeff Hornacek believes his team needs to play more like Miami. Hornacek told Marc Berman of The New York Post he wants his team to follow the Heat’s lead on defense.
“Use Miami as an example,’’ Hornacek said Friday morning at shootaround. “You started playing basketball, all of a sudden we just get after it [defensively] the whole game, we’ll have chance to win games and than get confidence. It’s a different mentality you have to have to win in this league.
“Defensively, they go at it right from the start of the game,’’ Hornacek added. “They get in you.”
Rose believes the Knicks have more talent than the Heat “it shows that basketball is a team sport.” Rose said the defense was the biggest problem this year not lack of offense.
“But I’ve been saying that the entire year. We weren’t consistent defensively this year, and it shows with our record.”
Per Berman, Anthony didn’t show his face to the media all day Friday in Miami. Maybe he was upset about not being able to play.
ESNY’s Robbie Stratakos talk to us about how Carmelo Anthony post game comments are the main reason why this franchise is dysfunctional.
ESNY’s Chip Murphy gave us extra information on what the former Knick players feel about Kristaps Porzingis and Carmelo Anthony.
Up Next: The Knicks come back to Madison Square Garden to face the number one seed Boston Celtics (49-27) Sunday, April 2nd, @ 1:00 p.m. et.
