Post Game Recap
The Knicks were able to get a much needed victory and snap their seven-game losing streak Wednesday Night in Minnesota against the Timberwolves 118-106. It was a great team effort put forth by the team tonight as they got going right from the start, never trailing in the game and being engaged from the opening tip through the final whistle. The victory moves the Knicks record to 22-40 on the season and moves them to within six games of the Atlanta Hawks, who play at the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday, for eighth place in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks will look to keep the positive play going Friday night against the Utah Jazz at Madison Square Garden
Player of the Game: Raymond Felton
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| Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports |
Felton had his best game in a long time and arguably this season as he scored 18 points to go along with eight assists, three rebounds, four steals and one block. Felton played with supreme confidence and energy tonight as he attacked the basket and created easy opportunities for himself and his teammates. Felton’s aggressiveness makes things immensely easier for the Knicks as easy baskets and open jump shots become more readily available. As Felton goes the Knicks go and if they are to make a final push for the playoffs to close the season Felton needs to continue playing close to what he did tonight.
-Positives
Mike Woodson looks to have finally hit the right buttons for the starting lineup. For the second consecutive game Felton, J.R. Smith, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler started and for the second consecutive game the Knicks started the game on fire. Tonight they opened on a 9-0 run and scored a season-high tying 38 points in a quarter to start the game. The last two games the Knicks have been the team to get off to a fast start and put the opposition in an early hole, tonight they were just able to sustain the improved player.
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| Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports |
No matter what the Timberwolves did to slow down Anthony it did not work tonight. Anthony didn’t have his jump shot clicking, going 3-10 from the three point line and he didn’t get to the foul line as much as he usually does, taking only four attempts and making two, yet he still poured in 33 points. Anthony had it going from the mid-range, knocking down 11-17 shots from inside the three point line. He also added five rebounds, five assists and three steals.
Amar’e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler had a strong night on both ends of the court. The two of them were handed the responsibility of slowing down double-double machine Kevin Love and they combined to do as well as anyone has this season. Love shot only 6-19 from the field for 19 points and managed to grab only eight rebounds. Offensively Stoudemire scored 18 points to go with eight rebounds, one assist, one steal and two blocks. Chandler added 15 points and 14 rebounds to go along with stellar defense against Love.
Overall, the defense tonight for the Knicks was solid. The perimeter defense was much improved, as Ricky Rubio was forced into six turnovers and Kevin Martin was able to knock down only three of his 10 attempts from the field. On the night the Timberwolves shot only 39-90 (43.4 percent) and 7-26 (26.9 percent) from the three point line.
The Knicks showed some real heart and resiliency tonight. The game was going much like Monday against the Pistons did; a great start that was ruined by progressively worse play every quarter after that. Tonight the Knicks had poor second and third quarters once again, but they never allowed the Timberwolves to take the lead, knocking down timely baskets to keep them at bay. They did not wilt under the pressure once the Timberwolves made their run, instead coming back with a run of their own to put the game away in the fourth quarter and take home the win.
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| Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports |
-Negatives
The only real negative to the game tonight and what looks like the biggest problem they will face the remainder of the season is the bench production. Tonight the bench managed to score only 20 points, four of which came in garbage time from Jeremy Tyler. Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 11, Pablo Prigioni scored three and Iman Shumpert added two. With performances like that from the bench the pressure will be squarely on the starting unit to carry the team offensively. The bench unit needs to find ways to impact the game in more ways than scoring.
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