New York Knicks Hold On Late To Defeat Charlotte Hornets

The New York Knicks were tested Sunday night by the Charlotte Hornets, and responded with a hard fought victory. These were the types of games the Knicks lost last season, as they would become stagnant and lose the flow. Tonight that was not the case, as they showed poise down the stretch of the game. After opening up an early 15-point lead, the Hornets climbed back into the game throughout, as the biggest lead for either team in the second half was only three points. The Knicks did not get discouraged, as they were able to hold on for the victory and move to 2-1 on the season.

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Matchup of the Game Recap:

Samuel Dalembert and Al Jefferson was the matchup of the game to watch in the pre-game write up and it became an imperative part of the game. Dalembert got the best of Jefferson to start the game, as he started out 1-5 from the field.

Jefferson was able to get going once Dalembert got into foul trouble, as he finished the game 8-12 and finished with 21 points. He single handedly got the Hornets back into the game, but Dalembert and the Knicks were able to get the stops when they needed and was a big factor in deciding the outcome.

Player of the Game: Amar’e Stoudemire

There were a couple of players that could have been mentioned in this spot, but Stoudemire gets the honor for turning the clock back to what looked almost like vintage Stoudemire.

STAT had a big stat line, scoring 17 points on 7-13 shooting, showcasing his offensive arsenal in the paint close to the basket and with his sweet jumper. He also added a game high 10 rebounds, that stat that stood out and why he gets POTG tonight.

Stoudemire also needs a little credit for stepping up and guarding Jefferson when Dalembert had the foul trouble. Jefferson got to work on Stoudemire the first few possessions down the court, but he stepped up as well as he could defensively, and countered with some strong scoring possessions of his own.

Nov 2, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) gets off a jump shot against Charlotte Hornets guard Lance Stephenson (1) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. New York defeated Charlotte 96-93. Mandatory Credit: Jim O

–Melo Leads Offense

Carmelo Anthony could have easily been the POTG as he once again scored the basket that put the game away for the Knicks and led the way offensively. Tonight Anthony scored a game-high 28 points on an efficient 12-22 from the field. He knocked down 2-3 from both downtown and the foul line to lead the way for the Knicks. He is getting into better position to score the ball this season with the Knicks’ spacing offensively much better and the passing being much improved. In the process, Anthony joined the 20,000 career point club, the 40th player to do so.

–Foul Shooting

The foul shooting was below average for both teams tonight, the Hornets just attempted so many it kept them in the game. On the night, the Hornets attempted 29 free throws, knocking down 21 for 72.4 percent. On the other hand, the Knicks attempted only 17, making a paltry 10 for an ugly percentage of 58.8. For the game, the Knicks committed 26 fouls while the Hornets committed only 16.

–Bench Play

Derek Fisher didn’t go as deep into his bench as Thursday, but it was deeper than many NBA teams would ever go. He played six players off his bench, and they all did their job once they entered the game. J.R. Smith had another strong effort, scoring seven points and looking good in the pick-and-roll game with Jason Smith.

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Along with Stoudemire, Tim Hardaway Jr., again in pretty limited minutes only playing 10, scored nine points to add a much needed scoring punch.

Pablo Prigioni also gave a spirited effort, playing the whole fourth quarter and providing a spark. He had a momentum changing play on a Lance Stephenson inbounds pass, deflecting it and then knocking it off a Hornets’ player to get the Knicks another possession. He also played solid defense against Kemba Walker, who had a quiet night with 16 points and only one assist.

Next up for the Knicks will be a matchup against John Wall and the Washington Wizards Tuesday night at 7:30 PM at Madison Square Garden.

Next: Did Knicks Make Right Decisions With Larkin, Shumpert?