Knicks defeat Hawks 95-91

After a tough loss against the Spurs, the New York Knicks looked to bounce back against the Atlanta Hawks. From the start the Knicks looked very loose and comfortable and moved very well for a team struggling to find themselves. The first half was very kind for the Knicks as they put together a very solid 17 point lead. But in the second half they would lose that edge and allow the Hawks to come all the way back and take the lead. But in the end a strong fourth quarter would lead to a Knicks win.

Led by Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks finally looked like a team that could compete in games. Anthony scored 25 points in this win and really played strong in the fourth quarter. Anthony really attacked in that quarter and that energy really helped get the Knicks the lead they needed late in the game.

The play of Andrea Bargnani in the fourth quarter was strong as he nailed two key three pointers to extend the Knicks lead. Bargnani has his defensive problems, but late in this game Bargnani played strong in limiting points inside. He did have a struggle for the first three quarters, but he played very strong late in the game. Bargnani also grabbed a season high 11 rebounds. He was active and really had a nice game tonight.

For the Hawks the play of Jeff Teague was strong. Teague scored a team high 25 points and continues to play well for the Hawks. His quickness really made life difficult for the Knicks defensively. He continues to grow as a basketball player and continues to improve as a player.

Another Hawk who played strong was Al Horford. He imposed his will on the offensive end and that resulted in a strong 23 point game. Horford made life tough on Andrea Bargnani, who isn’t known for his defense. His quickness and ability to run the floor was very strong for the Hawks. Horford and Teague are an excellent combination for the Hawks and they should continue to get better as the season goes on.

Overall tonight was a nice night for the Knicks. Iman Shumpert, who is rumored to be traded, had a strong game as he dished out nine assists. Shumpert played very strong down the stretch as made a huge block to continue the Knicks momentum. Tim Hardaway Jr chipped in a strong 14 points off the bench and also JR Smith, who started, played very well in the beginning as he scored 12 points for the game.

The Knicks will face the Houston Rockets tomorrow night looking to continue winning. While the Hawks will face the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night. The Knicks won tonight 95-91 as they try to continue to improve.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/John Bazemore