• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Knicks welcome Hawks to MSG

Nov 16, 2013 - 3:14 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Carmelo Anthony's 45-point, 10-rebound performance wasn't enough to spur the New York Knicks to victory the last time out, so he'll try again Saturday versus the Atlanta Hawks at Madison Square Garden.

Anthony thought he had pulled the Knicks even versus the Houston Rockets with a chance to go ahead, but an early whistle on James Harden spoiled the moment. Before the Rockets escaped with a 109-106 victory, they needed an 11-2 run to erase a 91-91 tie.

With the Rockets later ahead by a 107-104 margin, Harden fouled Anthony behind the 3-point line and the shot went in. However, referee Scott Foster whistled no basket and Anthony made both free throws to make it 107-106. Harden then sealed the win with a pair from the stripe.

"It really doesn't matter right now for me to say whether I thought it was a good call or not. So therefore we move on from that," Anthony said.

J.R. Smith's desperation heave from midcourt ricocheted sharply off the backboard as time expired.

Andrea Bargnani netted 24 points for the Knicks, who have lost five of their last seven games. Smith chipped in 15 points and eight rebounds in defeat.

The Knicks have lost four in a row at home and hope to defeat the Hawks for the second time in three games. In a 95-91 victory at Atlanta on Wednesday, Anthony and Bargnani scored 25 and 20 points, respectively.

Jeff Teague scored 25 points and Al Horford added 23 in that one for the Hawks, who lost all three meetings with New York last season and are winless in the past five matchups between the teams.

Atlanta has lost four straight and 20 of its last 25 at MSG.

The Hawks got back into the win column after the Knicks loss with a 113-103 home victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. Atlanta was five behind at the half, but the Hawks buried the Sixers 28-17 in the third quarter and prevailed.

The Hawks shot 43.5 percent from beyond the 3-point line and were led by a career performance from Jeff Teague. He scored 33 points and handed out 10 assists.

"It was OK, it was a good game for me but you know we got another one tomorrow," said Teague on his career night. "That's a good thing about the NBA, you can bounce in the glory for a little bit but you gotta get back at it tomorrow."

DeMarre Carroll had a big night with 21 points and six rebounds. Al Horford chipped in 20 points, while Kyle Korver had 13 points. Korver went 3-for-5 from the 3-point line and has hit a 3-pointer in 82 consecutive games, which is the second longest streak in NBA history. Dana Barros owns the record at 89 consecutive games.