With the Linsanity disaster behind them, the Knicks came back home and took it out on the Pistons today. They cruised to a 121-100 victory behind Carmelo Anthony’s 29 points in 31 minutes and they got back to playing ramped-up defense in a Garden matinee, breaking a two-game losing streak.
The Knicks moved to 9-3 and stayed unbeaten at home at 5-0. The win sets the stage for tomorrow’s historic, first-ever showdown vs. the Nets in their new locale in Brooklyn – a makeup game of the postponed season opener.
“We wanted to bounce back,” Anthony said. “We did that today. We got back to playing the defense we know how to play. We locked in. we just had to go back to trusting each other on the defensive end and we did that. The last two games, we didn’t.”
Today’s victory temporarily erased the stench of their 131-103 disgrace at the hands of Jeremy Lin’s Rockets in Houston. During their two-game losing streak that included a defeat in Dallas, the Knicks had allowed 245 points. All their losses have come on the road – the third one being in Memphis.
“It was a lot better than we were playing on the road,” Mike Woodson said. “I thought we were committed.’’
Melo shot 10 of 18, made all five of his free throws and had 3 assists. He also mostly refrained from arguing with the officials and sizzled with his jumper, making 4 of 5 3-pointers. He didn’t play the fourth quarter.
Raymond Felton bounced back with a 14-point, 10-rebound effort and Tyson Chandler scored 13 points with 7 boards.
The Pistons (3-11) were out of it from the get-go with Melo hot from the start. Anthony had a sweet 15-point first quarter, making his first six shots, including three 3-pointers. The Knicks took a 32-22 lead after one.
The Knicks had a 20-point lead at halftime, 64-44, as Anthony finished with 21 points – 8 of 11 from the field. The Knicks shot 53.8 percent from the field in the half but only Melo was in double figures.
The Pistons came out strong in the second half, scored the first eight points of the third quarter, cutting it down to eight, 77-69, before the Knicks pulled away in the fourth, with Steve Novak providing the knockout blows from the 3-point line.
“We played better defense in the second half,” Felton said. “We got after it.”
Novak made 5 of 7 3-pointers to finish with 18 points. J.R. Smith had 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. The Knicks were 17 of 33 on 3-pointers. Brandon Knight, the young Pistons point guard, finished with 21 points.
“I’m glad to see the belt back up,’’ Melo said, referring to Novak’s Discount Double Check motion of strapping on a championship belt.
Before the game, reflecting on the Houston meltdown, Woodson said it’s part of the road blues: “We play pretty good here at home. It’s good to be back home. The road is not easy. It’s not easy on anybody in the league. To go through a game like we went through, it’s something I don’t wish on any coach. We got to to block it out and put it behind us.’’
And so they did.
Point guard Pablo Prigioni ended the first quarter with a flourish by stealing a midcourt inbounds pass in the final seconds and streaking in a for a layup. He got fouled and made the free throw – the 3-point play putting the Knicks up 31-22 after the first period.
Anthony felt in great rhythm on his jumper and made the Pistons pay early. He made one great escape dribble at the 3-point line to fake out overmatched power forward Jason Maxiel, move in closer and bury a 2-pointer.
After taking a pass at the top of the arc, Melo dribbled down the shot clock, squared up and fired it in. after which he pointed to his head – his new ritual. Melo, leading the NBA in technical fouls, still managed to with to the referees after he felt he was fouled on a drive late in the first quarter – his night’s first miss.
The Knicks began to blow out Detroit midway through the second quarter. A 17-4 run was highlighted by Felton busting out on a fastbreak, racing into the lane and dishing into the corner to an open Jason Kidd, who knocked in another 3-pointer.
That gave the Knicks a 57-42 bulge with 2:06 left in the half, prompting Detroit coach Lawrence Frank to call timeout. Felton bumped it to a 20-point bulge as he caught up to a lead feed from Kidd and had his breakaway layup knocked off the glass by Tayshawn Prince, with goaltending called.
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After missing Friday with a sore left foot, Rasheed Wallace returned and played 23 minutes and had 15 points.… Center Marcus Camby, who had been benched recently because of his conditioning, got five minutes in the first half, spearheading a fastbreak that was finished on a tic-tac-toe passing play between Camby, Anthony and Smith.