Anthony, Stoudemire join forces to lift Knicks past Hawks
New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire shoots over Atlanta Hawks guard Kirk Hinrich during the second half half. (April 22, 2012) Credit: AP
ATLANTA -- The Knicks won a game with playoff-type intensity and without playing the type of defense they will need if they are going to advance in the postseason.
Tyson Chandler was given the day off to rest, and the Knicks' defense rested. But they made just enough plays defensively Sunday to pull out a 113-112 victory over the Hawks in an entertaining, back-and-forth game that featured plenty of pushing, shoving and jawing and five technical fouls.
"I guess both teams are starting to prepare for that playoff mentality," said Carmelo Anthony (39 points, 10 rebounds). "I'm just excited and happy that we were able to pull it out."
It was a shootout that probably reminded Anthony of some of his games with Denver. He shot 14-for-32, and his long jumper with 1:40 left resulted in the final points of the game.
But it was fitting that after how poorly the Knicks played defensively -- Atlanta shot 15-for-23 on three-pointers -- that they would need a stop to remain in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
With 3.2 seconds left, Joe Johnson inbounded to Marvin Williams, and Knicks rookie Iman Shumpert didn't allow Johnson, the Hawks' top clutch player, to get the ball back. So Williams drove down the lane on Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire and went up for a slam.
Stoudemire played good defense and knocked the ball away. But the block and the shot didn't count because they came after the buzzer.
"It was a good drive by him," Stoudemire said. "He attacked the rim well. I think Melo and myself both had our hands on the ball, so it was tough for him to make that basket."
The Knicks (34-30) took a half-game lead on Philadelphia and have a magic number of two to clinch the seventh spot. The 76ers have three games left and the Knicks have two.
Other than the road win against a quality team, the highlight for the Knicks was how Stoudemire played in his second game after missing 13 with a bulging disc in his back.
Aside from his strong defensive stand on the last play, Stoudemire had 22 points, shot 9-for-13 and grabbed 12 rebounds in 34:24. A few one-handed dunks showed his explosiveness is coming back. "I feel great," he said. "I feel strong."
Williams had 29 points and 11 rebounds to lead Atlanta (38-26). Jeff Teague scored 23 and Johnson 22.
Anthony got into it with Teague in the third quarter. They jawed with each other and Anthony committed a hard foul on him.
In the fourth, Jannero Pargo knocked Stoudemire down, and he bounced right back up. The 6-1 Pargo had words for the 6-11 Stoudemire, who laughed as he looked down at the guard. "I think my new braids are making guys intimidated, so they want to get physical with me," Stoudemire joked.
There were 18 lead changes, including six in the fourth. Johnson's three with 1:50 left put Atlanta up 112-111. Anthony wasted no time in giving the Knicks the lead back as he buried a long jump shot 10 seconds later.
The Knicks didn't execute well offensively on their final two trips -- a turnover and a forced three -- but they got enough stops.
They've allowed 116.3 points in three games without Chandler and 93.8 when he plays.
"Old-school shootout, the offense was great," coach Mike Woodson said. "It just shows how valuable Tyson Chandler is to our ballclub.
"We defended in the fourth quarter, though. I give us that much credit. It was a 19-19 quarter and we really buckled down and did what we had to do in the fourth to secure the win."
