New York Knicks: 15 greatest individual performances of all-time

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(Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /

6. Anthony with an Easter-day miracle

The 2011-12 season was a weirdly frustrating season for Carmelo Anthony.

His first full run in the Big Apple, his points per game average dipped to one of its lowest ever at 22.6. During a seven-game absence in early February, “Linsanity” took over Madison Square Garden, leaving “Melo” to take a back seat to the best storyline in the NBA.

Keep in mind, Anthony had come to New York to be “the guy”. To be upstaged by this relative unknown out of Harvard named Jeremy Lin no doubt upset him.

Fast forward to the beginning of April, where the Knicks were trying to secure a playoff berth when the high and mighty Chicago Bulls led by reigning NBA MVP Derrick Rose came to town for an Easter Sunday matinée.

To put it shortly, Carmelo gave one of the top defenses in the league the business that day, dropping 43 points on 51.6 percent shooting from the field with his usual mix of quick bursts to the rim and picture-perfect jumpers from the perimeter.

What made this performance so special wasn’t just the stats, but rather when two of his particular 3-point makes happened to drop in.

After two missed free-throws by Chicago up three, Melo proceeded to dribble the ball up the court and pull-up for a right-wing 3-pointer over Taj Gibson that rattled in to tie the game.

Then in overtime down by two, from about the same spot a few feet beyond the arc, he put home another one, this time over the helpless arm of Luol Deng, giving the Knicks a one-point lead and ultimately the victory.

Following that unconscious go-ahead shot, one could see Anthony proclaim to MSG that this was his house, a possible jab at Lin given how little the overnight sensation had proven over the totality of his career.

Not only was that shot as clutch as can be, but it was also a bright moment for the Knicks in what was ultimately a tumultuous season. More importantly, it helped fans remember just how good Carmelo can be and why the team fought so hard to acquire him in the first place.