OKLAHOMA CITY — Woodson Watch II may be overshadowed Sunday afternoon by Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony stealing the show on national television. They square off for likely the first and last time this season.
Anthony missed the initial Christmas game encounter against the powerhouse Thunder with a sprained left ankle but is gearing up for Sunday’s 1 p.m. showdown at Chesapeake Energy Arena before the league’s loudest fans. Durant, the leading MVP candidate, is coming off a recent streak of 12 straight 30-point games and is having his best season.
“If you can’t get up for games like that, then something’s wrong with you,’’ Anthony said.
Anthony then cracked a joke. Tip-off is noon in the plains of Oklahoma, and the Knicks haven’t fared well this season in early matinees.
“Literally I got to get up,’’ Anthony said. “It’s a 12 o’clock game. We should be used to it by now, playing noon games.”
Durant racked up 29 points (10-of-16, 4-of-6 3-pointers, seven rebounds, six assists) in a virtuoso performance on Christmas at the Garden. He’s averaging a league-leading 31 points along with 7.6 rebounds and 5.5 assists and has the Thunder first in the West at 40-12, even without injured point guard Russell Westbrook, out with a right knee injury. Anthony ranks second in the league in scoring with 27.4 per game.
“[Durant’s] having a spectacular season,’’ said Anthony, who beat out the fellow Baltimore-area product for the scoring title last season. “Top to bottom. Everything he’s doing. He keeps getting better. That’s what I love about him. He’s going to continue to get better.’’
The 6-foot-11 Durant is slotted at small forward, posing problems for the Knicks defense in their smallball Andrea Bargnani-less alignment. Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith likely will alternate on Durant. Maybe Anthony, who has MVP-like numbers but isn’t in contention because of the Knicks’ record, will see some of Durant, too.
“We got to pack the paint, make them take outside shots,’’ Smith said. “Try to get the ball out of [Durant’s] hands as much as possible and contain everyone else. ‘’
The day after the Knicks, without Anthony, were routed by the Thunder, owner James Dolan gave coach Mike Woodson a vote of confidence, telling the players at the Tarrytown practice facility there will be no coaching change.
That proclamation could be wearing thin, and Monday’s 101-98 loss to the league-worst loss Bucks in Milwaukee may have Dolan rethinking his position.
But the Knicks’ 117-90 domination of the Nuggets Friday gave Woodson a bit of a reprieve. Nevertheless, this is another measuring-stick day.
Last season, the Knicks recorded one of their best wins against the Thunder in Oklahoma City.
Despite the occasional glimpse of excellence, there haven’t been many highlights through 50 games this season. But The Knicks were superb in all facets Friday, and a more energized Woodson was talking with some bravado entering Sunday’s matchup.
“They got to guard Melo and our crew too,’’ Woodson said. “That’s how I look at it. When we’re clicking we’re hard to guard as well. They are a major threat for a lot of teams. [Point guard] Reggie Jackson been phenomenal since Westbook out. Their supporting cast has been great. We had success last year there. We got to put a solid 48 minutes together.’’
Interestingly, Woodson and all the players raved about the team’s practice Thursday in which they got in a rare, lengthy scrimmage, having enough healthy bodies.
According to a source, Woodson’s message from the scrimmage was getting back to more of a fast-paced attack, running more like last season. It was evident, especially the way point guard Raymond Felton played with jet engines strapped to his back. Felton and fellow point guard Pablo Prigioni combined for 14 assists, but they will have to contend Sunday with the speedy Jackson, who has excelled against the Knicks.
Tyson Chandler said the Denver win was another signal on how good the Knicks, despite the fact they are 20-30 and out of the playoffs if the season ended today.
“You can’t change the stats,’’ Chandler said. “It gave us the opportunity to really see what it takes to win. We have to put more nights like this together.’’
After the win, Anthony seemed to deliver message to his teammates when he said it’s not about Woodson’s s game plan, it’s more about the club’s “inconsistencies from not playing hard.’’
“We’re the players, we’re on the court,’’ Anthony said. “We’re the one that defend, shoot the ball, [have to] hustle and play hard.’’
Smith said he couldn’t guarantee Woodson has the entire locker room on his side.
“I believe so. It’s kind of hard to tell,” Smith said. “Nobody wants to show their whole hand. I think guys really care about him. I think guys care about this team, care about winning.”