Knicks fall to Nuggets in Denver with Phil Jackson in attendance
New York Knicks president Phil Jackson speaks at a press conference at the MSG Training Center on Tuesday, June 23, 2015. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
DENVER — There was a familiar face in an unfamiliar place for the Knicks on Tuesday night, as team president Phil Jackson attended a rare road game.
But Jackson’s presence couldn’t inspire the Knicks or get them off to a good start on this six-game trip.
At times, the Knicks looked like a team at the end of a long trip. They trailed for the last 30:21 of the game and fell, 110-94, to the Denver Nuggets at Pepsi Center.
The Knicks, who are in Phoenix on Wednesday night, have been free-falling since late January. This was their 17th loss in 21 games. They’re 3-8 since Jackson fired Derek Fisher and appointed Kurt Rambis interim coach.
“It was just about us not controlling the paint all night long,” Rambis said. “We just couldn’t figure that out.”
Carmelo Anthony, who was booed most of the night in his Denver return, led the Knicks (26-39) with 30 points. No other starter scored in double-figures.
Kristaps Porzingis returned after missing Saturday’s win over Detroit because of a contused lower left leg. But he didn’t have an impact.
Porzingis was 3-for-11 with six points and five rebounds in 20 minutes. He was outplayed by Denver’s rookie big man Nikola Jokic (20 points, nine rebounds).
The Knicks lost Lance Thomas during pregame warm-ups to a left-knee injury. He was shooting and did something after planting on it. Thomas needed to be helped to the locker room. An MRI revealed no structural damage, but the Knicks haven’t given a timetable on him.
The Nuggets (26-38) opened up an 84-68 lead early in the fourth. The Knicks knocked nine points off of it and were down 89-82 after a Porzingis basket with 6:42 left. Denver scored six straight points to go ahead 95-82. The Knicks never got it under eight after that.
Jackson doesn’t normally travel with the team. But Rambis said it was Jackson’s idea and believes he will be on the entire trip.
“He’s the president,” Rambis said. “He kind of gets to do what he wants.”
Rambis said he knew Jackson would be coming with the Knicks about a week and a half ago.
“Phil wanted to travel with his team,” Anthony said. “I don’t see anything wrong with that. We welcome that.”
It was believed Jackson would meet the Knicks this weekend in Los Angeles when they play the Clippers on Friday and Lakers on Sunday. Jackson has a home in Southern California and has attended Knicks games at Staples Center the past two years. Besides that, Brooklyn has been the only “road” games Jackson attended.
Jackson was at the Knicks’ morning shootaround, but was not made available to the media. Since training camp started, Jackson has spoken to reporters only once — when he fired Fisher.
“It’s always great to have him around,” Rambis said. “He’s a great sounding board. He has a tremendous basketball mind, so it’s always good to have around. He’s around at home, too. This is a long trip. So it’s good to have him around.”
Jackson doesn’t travel much because of health reasons. It’s why he said he won’t coach again. But Jackson is close friends with Rambis. He could be trying to show him some support. They have a better relationship than Jackson did with Fisher.
Anthony still hasn’t spoken recently with Jackson.
The Knicks’ star player has been frustrated lately and has voiced his displeasure about the Knicks likely missing the playoffs for a third straight year. He also had an exchange with a fan at the Garden last week, and was prompted by the organization to issue a statement of regret, even though Anthony doesn’t believe he did or said anything wrong.
Anthony knows the time is coming for the two to talk about the future of the franchise.
“The line of communication is always open between us,” Anthony said. “He knows he can sit down and talk to me any given time and I know his door is open anytime I want to sit down and talk. Whenever that times comes for us to sit down and talk and figure things out, I’m pretty sure we will.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
