Knicks Cruise to a 92-80 Victory over the Lakers Behind Melo’s 31 Points Performance
By William Lee
February 01, 2015 was supposed to be a matinée match-up showcasing NBA’s two largest superstars just before the NFL Super Bowl XLIX kicked off. Unfortunately Kobe Bryant just had surgery to repair his right rotator cuff this past Wednesday, which is expected to sideline him for nine months. The schedule makers also could not have foreseen that instead, it was a matchup between two teams with a combined 22 wins for the season.
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Los Angeles started off the game in a zone defensively, it worked for the first couple of possessions, but it allowed Jason Smith to go unaccounted for. Smith scored the first seven points for New York, including a three-pointer (stretching out his range as of late). The Knicks converted on eight straight field goals, propelling them on a 19-6 run to lead 26-12 with 2:51 remaining in the first quarter. Langston Galloway and Carmelo Anthony combined for 14 of the 19 points during the run. New York led 32-19 after the opening quarter.
Los Angeles got back into the game, going on an 11-3 run to start the second quarter. New York’s ineptitude offensively from the bench unit allowed the Lakers to get back into the game. A Shane Larkin three-pointer was the lone field goal made in the first-half of the second quarter. Anthony scored seven of the last ten points to end the first half for New York, including a tremendous one-handed alley oop slam dunk. The New York Knicks led by 39-47 after the first half.
Los Angeles was dreadful in the first half on offense, shooting 26.8% from the field, as well as turning the ball over seven times. Five of the turnovers came in the first quarter, which helped ignite the Knicks past the Lakers.
The third quarter was the Carmelo Anthony show; Anthony scored as many points as the whole Lakers team did during the period. Anthony scored 18 points, taking advantage of the Lakers’ strategy of not double teaming him. Anthony was so hot; he took a heat-check three-pointer that rimmed all around the rim, before finally going in. Anthony finished the game with a game 31 points and 8 rebounds.
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New York led by as many as 21 points in the fourth quarter, and cruised to a 92-80 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Madison Square Garden gave the Knicks a standing ovation as they walked off the floor in their first wire to wire victory this season. During the game, there were faint cheers for Jeremy Lin as well (who can forget Linsanity). Although there was not much to cheer about, Lin finished the game with as many points as turnovers (4), but did manage to dish out seven assist.