Final
Suns visit Madison Square Garden
Dec 20, 2014 - 2:14 PMVideo
The Knicks did not have leading scorer Carmelo Anthony (23.4 ppg) in Thursday's 103-97 loss at Chicago because of a sore knee and he is questionable Saturday afternoon.
Knicks guard J.R. Smith has missed the last five games with a partially torn left plantar fascia and is also questionable.
New York has lost three in a row and 13 of its last 14 games, and couldn't overcome Jimmy Butler's career-high 35 points. Even Bulls guard Derrick Rose missed the contest with an illness
Tim Hardaway Jr. picked up the slack with Anthony sidelined and led the Knicks with 23 points. Amare Stoudemire chipped in with 16 points and six rebounds, while Cole Aldrich added 13 points and 10 boards.
"Chicago is a good team, they understand how to play in these situations and they made more plays down the stretch," said Knicks coach Derek Fisher.
The Knicks will try to stop a six-game home losing streak and are 3-11 inside the confines of MSG. After hosting the Suns, New York will play four of the next five games on the road.
Phoenix halted a six-game losing streak with Wednesday's 111-106 triumph against the Charlotte Hornets.
Isaiah Thomas scored 23 points off the bench, Goran Dragic added 20 points and eight assists and Gerald Green provided 16 points in a reserve role. Eric Bledsoe recorded 15 points for Phoenix, which shot 52.4 percent and is in the midst of playing three straight and seven of eight games on the road.
"When you've lost six games in a row and you get down 15 or 18 points, however many we were down, that's an easy time to quit," said Suns coach Jeff Hornacek. "But our guys didn't quit, they kept playing and playing."
The Suns are 7-7 as the visitor this season.
Phoenix and New York will play the first of two meetings this season and are scheduled to meet again March 15 at US Airways Center. The two teams split a pair of games last season. The Knicks will try for their third straight win at home in this series.
- PHOENIX: 99
NEW YORK: 90
Final
Dec 20 3:19 PM - PHOENIX: 67
NEW YORK: 68
End of 3rd
Dec 20 2:46 PM - PHOENIX: 44
NEW YORK: 47
Halftime
Dec 20 2:06 PM - PHOENIX: 24
NEW YORK: 21
End of 1st
Dec 20 1:35 PM - PHOENIX: 3
NEW YORK: 0
1st Quarter - 11:42
Dec 20 1:12 PM
Related News
- Knicks Robbed By Late Call on Jalen Brunson Feb 13
- REPORT: Boston’s interest in Kelly Olynyk and obstacles to a Knicks’ Dejounte Murray trade Dec 26
- Should we be worried that people with the Phoenix Suns can “feel the frustration with Durant”? Dec 26
- Knicks 129, Bucks 122: “Manhattanite Christmas Carol“ Dec 26
- Suns vs. Mavs Final Score: Phoenix continues to struggle, lose 128-114 to Dallas Dec 26
- Suns JAM Session Podcast: Suns (14-15) vs. Mavs Post Game Podcast Dec 26
- Open Thread: Mavericks vs. Suns Dec 25
- Scenes from a Christmas miracle at MSG Dec 25
- Game Preview: Struggling Suns face struggling Mavericks in Christmas Day showdown Dec 25
- Christmas Game Thread: New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks, December 25, 2023 Dec 25
- Stephen’s Study: Scouting Udoka Azubuike’s minutes against the Sacramento Kings Dec 25
- Christmas game preview, Knicks vs Bucks: Prediction, time, and how to watch Dec 24