The New York Knicks (23–21) snapped their six-game losing streak with a 115–106 win against the Washington Wizards (13–30) at Madison Square Garden on Monday. It was the final matchup of the year between the two teams; the Knicks swept the series 3–0.
The Knicks were coming off a three-game road stretch that ended with a tough 101–98 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
The Wizards meanwhile came into the game having gone 0–20 on the road this season to earn the worst road record in the NBA. After Monday’s loss, the Wizards are now only eight games away from the worst consecutive road loss record set by the 1992 Dallas Mavericks. The Wizards have also not won in the Garden since December 2006.
Those dubious stats aside, the game looked hopeful for the Wizards at the start on Monday when they built a quick six-point lead early in the first quarter.
The Knicks went on a 12–0 run to erase that lead and climb ahead by as much as seven points midway through the quarter before finishing up 33–26. Raymond Felton led with 10 points and Ronny Turiaf made a solid 5-point contribution from the bench.
The Knicks would pull up by as much as 13 points early in the second quarter, but then the tables turned again and the Wizards made an impressive 23–6 run to erase the deficit and pull ahead by as much as 5 points.
The half finished with the teams tied at 62, with the Knicks getting well-balanced double-digit scoring from Amar’e Stoudemire, Wilson Chandler, and Felton.
The Wizards were led in the first half by starters JaVale McGee and John Wall, and the Wizards bench combined for 23 points led by Al Thornton while New York’s bench contributed 13 points.
Stoudemire came alive in the third quarter, scoring 15 points off some very powerful plays in the paint including several dunks. Both teams struggled with some sloppy turnovers in the quarter.
The entire second half was tightly contested until the midpoint of the fourth quarter when the Knicks pulled ahead by six points—then the largest lead of the second half—and took firm control of the game.
Stoudemire finished the night with 30 points and Chandler added 25 points to lead the Knicks. Felton had a double-double with 17 points and 15 assists.
The Wizards were led by Nick Young and Rashard Lewis with 22 points and 20 points, respectively, and McGee had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Knicks host the Miami Heat on Thursday.
In other basketball action on Monday, Eastern Conference bottom feeders the New Jersey Nets (13–32) and Cleveland Cavaliers (8–36) matched up at the Prudential Center in Newark, with the Nets coming away with a hard-fought 103–101 win.
The game was close throughout, except when the Nets hit a shooting funk to open the second quarter and the Cavs pulled ahead by 10 points.
Nets big man Brook Lopez led the game in scoring with 28 points, and the Nets bench scored an impressive 48 points with consistent contributions throughout the game. Power forward Kris Humphries had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The entire Cavs starting lineup except Christian Eyenga reached double-digit scoring but only Antawn Jamison broke 20 points, finishing the night with 26.
The Knicks were coming off a three-game road stretch that ended with a tough 101–98 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
The Wizards meanwhile came into the game having gone 0–20 on the road this season to earn the worst road record in the NBA. After Monday’s loss, the Wizards are now only eight games away from the worst consecutive road loss record set by the 1992 Dallas Mavericks. The Wizards have also not won in the Garden since December 2006.
Those dubious stats aside, the game looked hopeful for the Wizards at the start on Monday when they built a quick six-point lead early in the first quarter.
The Knicks went on a 12–0 run to erase that lead and climb ahead by as much as seven points midway through the quarter before finishing up 33–26. Raymond Felton led with 10 points and Ronny Turiaf made a solid 5-point contribution from the bench.
The Knicks would pull up by as much as 13 points early in the second quarter, but then the tables turned again and the Wizards made an impressive 23–6 run to erase the deficit and pull ahead by as much as 5 points.
The half finished with the teams tied at 62, with the Knicks getting well-balanced double-digit scoring from Amar’e Stoudemire, Wilson Chandler, and Felton.
The Wizards were led in the first half by starters JaVale McGee and John Wall, and the Wizards bench combined for 23 points led by Al Thornton while New York’s bench contributed 13 points.
Stoudemire came alive in the third quarter, scoring 15 points off some very powerful plays in the paint including several dunks. Both teams struggled with some sloppy turnovers in the quarter.
The entire second half was tightly contested until the midpoint of the fourth quarter when the Knicks pulled ahead by six points—then the largest lead of the second half—and took firm control of the game.
Stoudemire finished the night with 30 points and Chandler added 25 points to lead the Knicks. Felton had a double-double with 17 points and 15 assists.
The Wizards were led by Nick Young and Rashard Lewis with 22 points and 20 points, respectively, and McGee had a double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The Knicks host the Miami Heat on Thursday.
Nets Squeak By Cavs
In other basketball action on Monday, Eastern Conference bottom feeders the New Jersey Nets (13–32) and Cleveland Cavaliers (8–36) matched up at the Prudential Center in Newark, with the Nets coming away with a hard-fought 103–101 win.
The game was close throughout, except when the Nets hit a shooting funk to open the second quarter and the Cavs pulled ahead by 10 points.
Nets big man Brook Lopez led the game in scoring with 28 points, and the Nets bench scored an impressive 48 points with consistent contributions throughout the game. Power forward Kris Humphries had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
The entire Cavs starting lineup except Christian Eyenga reached double-digit scoring but only Antawn Jamison broke 20 points, finishing the night with 26.
