Knicks Starts A New Kind Of Streak By Beating The 76ers 98-91

Wednesday night it was a battle for the lottery ping pong balls between the New York Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers. New York won, yet lost at the same time. With the 98-91 victory, the Knicks decreased their chances of getting the most ping pong balls for the number one overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. But not really…because the worst team in the League only got the number one selection overall just three times since the lottery system has been implemented.

With the two most inept offenses in the NBA, the first half was some pretty ugly and sloppy display of basketball. I wasn’t sure if it was good defense, or just really bad offense. Both teams struggled from the field in the first half, shooting only 40%. Both teams also struggled with turnovers, both giving the ball away seven times in the first half, so they were equally inept.

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Carmelo Anthony in particular had a hard time getting out of the gate, converting only once in his first five shot attempts from the field. Anthony’s struggles were highlighted by consecutive turnovers mid-way through the second quarter. Anthony was caught traveling, then on the following possession, committed an offensive foul. Anthony was not the only player who struggled early Wednesday night; fellow Syracuse Orange Michael Carter Williams took 17 shots to score 14 first half points. New York held a 49-42 lead after the one half of play.

The struggles for Philadelphia would continue in the third quarter. The Sixers went 5/23 in the third quarter, magnified by a possession where Philadelphia missed five consecutive shots around the rim. With the Sixers struggles, the Knicks lead by as many as 14 points in the quarter. New York got their act together and shared the ball well in the third quarter, scoring 25 points on 11 field goals, of which 9 were assisted on.

Michael Carter Williams went on a personal 6-0 run early in the fourth quarter that got the Sixers within one possession 78-75. Both teams would exchange baskets down the stretch. With 1:06 remaining in the game Philadelphia trailed New York 93-89, and needed some key stops. Jerami Grant did just that, adding a couple more blocks for a career high eight blocks!

Unfortunately for Philadelphia, Grant’s final block in the game ended up in Langston Galloway’s hands. It was a matter of being in the right place at the right time, as Galloway picked up the loose ball and heaved up a three as the shot clock expired, giving New York a 96-89 lead with 15.3 seconds left in the game.

Tina Cervasio of MSG asked Galloway about the game winning shot after the game “What did it mean to you to start your second straight game in front of your friends and family? We met the women’s basketball team from St Joe’s, here today to support you, what did it mean to have this kind of game?” Galloway answered “I mean it meant a lot, especially with me hitting the big shot like that and getting to see all of them being here. I’m enjoying it and glad we got the win.”

Neither team looked like they wanted to win the game Wednesday night, both shot horrible from the field. New York shot 40.7%, with Philadelphia out-doing them 36.7%. Both team’s superstar were extremely inefficient from the field with Anthony going 8/24 to route to score 27 points, while Cater Williams took 26 attempts to score 27 points. The Sixers out-tanked the Knicks though, by sitting Nerlens Noel (upper respiratory infection) and Tony Wroten (right knee sprain) out for the game.