Knicks Snap Losing Streak With Win Over Timberwolves
Posted by Kenneth Teape on Thursday, March 06, 2014 with No comments
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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