The New York Knicks looked to snap a two game losing streak tonight as they faced the Sacramento Kings. This game was controlled by New York for the most part. They came out stronger and looked to get a win tonight. But the Kings wouldn’t go away without a fight. After trailing by 24 points the Kings came all the way back to come within two points in the fourth quarter. In the end though the Knicks would make plays to win this game on the back of JR Smith. The Knicks went on to win 107-99 for a very important win.
This was a very nice win for New York. After two games they showed lack of poise, they made up for that tonight by avoiding another letdown. JR Smith, as said above, was important tonight. Smith would tie Knicks record for most three-pointers made in a game with nine. His shot was in prime form tonight and he made some crucial baskets when New York needed them most. Smith has had some very bad games this season, but tonight was one of his best. He would end his night scoring 29 points.
Carmelo Anthony was also important as he scored a game-high 36 points. His play late was also important as he made plays to help New York get past the Kings. This continues to be a very heavy season for Anthony in terms of workload. He is constantly playing close to 40 minutes every night. Tonight he played 42 minutes in a game in which he shouldn’t have been out there that long. But the Kings battled and really made it tough for Anthony to sit.
The Kings comeback was due to the play of DeMarcus Cousins. He really had a fantastic game tonight as he scored 32 points. Not only was his scoring important, but he impacted the game in other areas as well. He added 15 rebounds and eight assists in what was a very dominating performance. His problem tonight was that he forced the action at times and didn’t make smart plays. He has the ability to dribble the ball as a big man, but he over dribbled in some cases tonight leading to turnovers. He is going to have a long career and once he irons out some of the little things, he will be a star in the NBA.
Overall this game turned out to be a very important one for New York. With the Hawks losing earlier in the night, New York now trials them by two games for the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. This was a much better effort by the Knicks tonight. Their defense looked better, but there is still some concerns on that end. When the Kings made their run tonight, the Knicks started playing some poor defense that they have shown this season. That area will likely be a concern for the rest of the season, but they have to limit the amount of bad defensive sets.
It was Anthony and Smith all night for New York and they stepped up big time for the team. They put forth the effort to get this win and help keep the season alive. The Knicks will now prepare for their matchup against the Phoenix Suns on Friday night. That game will be another important one for New York as they try to save their season.
Photo Credit: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
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