The New York Knicks (29–26) came away with a tough 114–108 win against the Milwaukee Bucks (22–35) on Wednesday night at Madison Square Garden in Carmelo Anthony’s first game with the team after the Tuesday trade.
Anthony had an average shooting night in his New York debut, finishing 10–25 in field goals after shooting just 5–14 in the first half.
The four-time All-Star picked up his game in the fourth quarter to score 11 points and finished the night with 27 points to lead the Knicks.
“It’s a great moment for me,” Anthony told MSG after the game. “I’m never going to forget this moment. It’s my first game of many here in the Garden. The fans were great tonight.”
Indeed the crowd at MSG gave Anthony as warm a welcome as he could have hoped for. Many waved banners and called out “Melo” from the stands throughout the game to welcome Anthony back to his hometown.
“This morning I came in early and got some shots up by myself and I felt like I was just still coming in for a shoot-around,” Anthony had said in a pre-game press conference.
“It didn’t really sink in yet the fact that I am a New York Knick. It was a dream come true for myself, and I’m ready to get down to business. I know we’ve got to gel and get our chemistry down, but at the same time we’ve got to roll. We’ve got goals to reach, and it starts now,” Anthony said.
The Bucks were able to keep within a few baskets for much of Wednesday’s game, staying alive off uncontested jumpers and good 11–22 shooting from beyond the perimeter.
The Bucks were also able to make key stops against the Knicks offense, drawing offensive fouls that helped put Stoudemire over the limit in only his second game of the season in which he fouled out. Stoudemire also picked up his 15th technical foul of the season, now just one away from the penalty limit.
The surprising player of the night was reserve guard Toney Douglas, who had some big games with the Knicks before the trade but really shone on Wednesday night.
Douglas actually led the game in scoring at the end of the third quarter with 20 points after an 11-point first half coming off the bench.
Douglas finished the game with 23 points including a key 3-pointer down the stretch when the Bucks were still managing to hang on.
Chauncey Billups finished with 21 points, and Stoudemire scored 19. Ronny Turiaf found himself on the starting roster in the center position after being a reserve player in the previous Knicks lineup. He and Landry Fields scored six and seven points, respectively.
The Bucks were led by guard John Salmons with 27 points, and center Andrew Bogut had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Anthony acquisition, which became official Tuesday, came at a high price for the Knicks. Anthony’s contract is for three years and $65 million, and the Knicks had to give up starters Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Timofey Mozgov as well sixth man Wilson Chandler.
In addition to Anthony, they get veteran point guard Chauncey Billups, and reserve forwards Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, and Corey Brewer. They also had to give up draft picks.
It was a tough decision but one that Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni believed would bring the team up to the next level.
“When you go out hunting, would you rather have a bigger gun or a little gun?” D’Antoni said. “We got a bigger gun.”
The Stoudemire-Anthony duo will prove formidable for opponents down low. Stoudemire ranks third in NBA scoring at 26.1 points per game and Anthony ranks sixth with 25.2 points per game.
“It’s what he wants,” Stoudemire said of Anthony’s decision to go with the Knicks. “It’s what I wanted, to come to New York and play on the big stage. He has the same type of swag. This is what he wants and he can handle it. We’re going to do it together.”
Anthony had an average shooting night in his New York debut, finishing 10–25 in field goals after shooting just 5–14 in the first half.
The four-time All-Star picked up his game in the fourth quarter to score 11 points and finished the night with 27 points to lead the Knicks.
“It’s a great moment for me,” Anthony told MSG after the game. “I’m never going to forget this moment. It’s my first game of many here in the Garden. The fans were great tonight.”
Indeed the crowd at MSG gave Anthony as warm a welcome as he could have hoped for. Many waved banners and called out “Melo” from the stands throughout the game to welcome Anthony back to his hometown.
“This morning I came in early and got some shots up by myself and I felt like I was just still coming in for a shoot-around,” Anthony had said in a pre-game press conference.
“It didn’t really sink in yet the fact that I am a New York Knick. It was a dream come true for myself, and I’m ready to get down to business. I know we’ve got to gel and get our chemistry down, but at the same time we’ve got to roll. We’ve got goals to reach, and it starts now,” Anthony said.
The Bucks were able to keep within a few baskets for much of Wednesday’s game, staying alive off uncontested jumpers and good 11–22 shooting from beyond the perimeter.
The Bucks were also able to make key stops against the Knicks offense, drawing offensive fouls that helped put Stoudemire over the limit in only his second game of the season in which he fouled out. Stoudemire also picked up his 15th technical foul of the season, now just one away from the penalty limit.
The surprising player of the night was reserve guard Toney Douglas, who had some big games with the Knicks before the trade but really shone on Wednesday night.
Douglas actually led the game in scoring at the end of the third quarter with 20 points after an 11-point first half coming off the bench.
Douglas finished the game with 23 points including a key 3-pointer down the stretch when the Bucks were still managing to hang on.
Chauncey Billups finished with 21 points, and Stoudemire scored 19. Ronny Turiaf found himself on the starting roster in the center position after being a reserve player in the previous Knicks lineup. He and Landry Fields scored six and seven points, respectively.
The Bucks were led by guard John Salmons with 27 points, and center Andrew Bogut had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Trade Deal
The Anthony acquisition, which became official Tuesday, came at a high price for the Knicks. Anthony’s contract is for three years and $65 million, and the Knicks had to give up starters Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, and Timofey Mozgov as well sixth man Wilson Chandler.
In addition to Anthony, they get veteran point guard Chauncey Billups, and reserve forwards Renaldo Balkman, Shelden Williams, and Corey Brewer. They also had to give up draft picks.
It was a tough decision but one that Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni believed would bring the team up to the next level.
“When you go out hunting, would you rather have a bigger gun or a little gun?” D’Antoni said. “We got a bigger gun.”
The Stoudemire-Anthony duo will prove formidable for opponents down low. Stoudemire ranks third in NBA scoring at 26.1 points per game and Anthony ranks sixth with 25.2 points per game.
“It’s what he wants,” Stoudemire said of Anthony’s decision to go with the Knicks. “It’s what I wanted, to come to New York and play on the big stage. He has the same type of swag. This is what he wants and he can handle it. We’re going to do it together.”
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