Knicks-Cavaliers Preview

By MATT BEARDMORE
Posted Jan 25 2012 1:18AM

Despite the worst offensive performance of Carmelo Anthony's career, the New York Knicks found a way to end their season-high six-game losing streak.

Now if they could only find a way to win a game in Cleveland.

New York will try to end its eight-game skid visiting the Cavaliers on Wednesday night when these teams meet.

Since sitting a game after suffering a sprained right ankle and injuring his left wrist against Memphis on Jan. 12, Anthony is averaging 21.2 points - but shooting only 31.3 percent from the field.

He missed all seven of his shots and finished with a career-low one point in 30 minutes of Tuesday's 111-78 victory at Charlotte.

Tyson Chandler, who finished with 20 points and a season high-tying 17 rebounds, and Amare Stoudemire (18 points, eight boards) did much of the heavy lifting in the Knicks' first victory since Jan. 11 versus Philadelphia.

"I needed a night like this where I didn't have to do too much and we still won the game by a lot," said Anthony, who also grabbed 11 rebounds - tying his season high. "We got a long road trip (three games in four nights) ahead of us. We got another one tomorrow at Cleveland so it's another day. This one is over. We won a game, team effort. Get ready for tomorrow."

Anthony is averaging 33.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists in his last three games at Cleveland.

The last time he played at Quicken Loans Arena, Anthony fouled out after scoring 27 points and pulling down eight rebounds in a 115-109 loss Feb. 25.

That was his Knicks road debut after being acquired from Denver three days earlier.

Thanks in large part to LeBron James, Cleveland has not lost at home to New York (7-10) since a 101-98 loss on Nov. 29, 2006.

The Knicks, though, snapped an 11-game skid to the Cavaliers on April 3 with a 123-107 victory. Anthony had 25 points in that game, and Stoudemire added 28 with seven boards as New York clinched its first playoff spot in seven seasons.

Not many expected the Cavaliers (6-10) to be in the playoff mix after finishing an Eastern Conference-worst 19-63 last season, but the addition of No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving has given the club plenty of optimism.

Cleveland, though, needs its 19-year-old point guard to take better care of the ball. Irving has a team-high 18 turnovers during a four-game losing streak after giving the ball away three times in Tuesday's 92-85 loss at Miami.

"We kind of beat ourselves tonight," said Irving, who finished with a team-high 17 points and four assists. "We had 22 turnovers and we lost by seven points."

That's still a step in the right direction after the Cavs lost their previous two to Chicago and Atlanta by a combined 66 points.

"Stayed in the game for 48 minutes," coach Byron Scott said.

Keeping the Knicks off the boards could help the Cavs stay in this game. The possible return of rookie Tristan Thompson, who missed Tuesday's game with a sprained left ankle, could help Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varejao against Chandler, who is averaging 14.0 rebounds and 12.0 points in his last four games.

Stoudemire led the Knicks with 30.8 points and 9.5 rebounds per game versus Cleveland in 2010-11.

Cavs outhustle Knicks 91-81

By TOM WITHERS
Posted Jan 25 2012 11:03PM

CLEVELAND (AP) After he dressed following another disturbing loss, Carmelo Anthony was asked about his injured right thumb, the All-Star's newest ailment.

"It's messed up," he said.

So are the Knicks.

One night after finally getting its offense to flow as designed, New York made 23 turnovers and never mounted a serious comeback in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, falling 91-81 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks' seventh loss in eight games.

Anderson Varejao had 16 rebounds, a powerful dunk down the stretch and outhustled Anthony and Amare Stoudemire to help the Cavs end a four-game losing streak.

Antawn Jamison added 15 points for the Cavs, who won their ninth straight at home over New York. The Knicks haven't won in Cleveland since 2006.

As the game was slipping away in the closing minutes, Anthony, blocked from a clear path to the basket by several Cavaliers, threw a pass to the wing for Stoudemire. But the ball went right through Stoudemire's legs and out of bounds, another costly error for the Knicks who may be the NBA's most disappointing team this season.

"We've got to find a way to score," coach Mike D'Antoni said. "We're not scoring the basketball."

Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the sloppy Knicks, who had six turnovers and just 17 points in the fourth quarter. Anthony scored 15 points - 14 more than he had in a win Tuesday night over Charlotte - but he had another poor shooting night, going 5 of 14.

New York scored just 36 points in the second half and failed to get closer than six points in the fourth.

Anthony can't pinpoint the Knicks' problems.

"I can't really put my finger on it right now," he said. "I can't figure it out. Last night, guys got going early and tonight we were waiting for it to come to us rather than go get it. We just couldn't figure it out."

Anthony hurt his thumb against the Bobcats, another hindrance to go along with a sprained left wrist and sprained right ankle.

He didn't use his injuries as an excuse, but the damage is preventing Anthony to play his game.

"There's no frustration," he said. "I'm thinking about my body. There's a lot going through my mind right now and I'm trying to figure it out. I'll get it figured out. It's a tough situation right now due to the circumstances, but I'll get it figured out. I'll tell you that."

The Cavs led by five entering the fourth and stretched it when reserve Alonzo Gee made a steal and went in for a windmill dunk to put Cleveland ahead 75-66.

At that point, the Knicks seemed to pack it in.

They got within 81-73 on a drive by Anthony, but Tyson Chandler stopped New York's momentum when he picked up a technical foul for elbowing Varejao while going for a rebound.

"That shouldn't have been a technical," Chandler said. "He was running up my back every play. On the free throw, I'm trying to get him off so he doesn't get an offensive rebound. I get a technical. Hopefully, the league sees what really happens."

Daniel Gibson made both free throws following the technical to put Cleveland up 84-73 before Stoudemire scored on a baseline dunk. After Anthony missed again, Jamison fed a streaking Varejao for his dunk to make it 86-75 with 3:05 left.

"He's a stat-sheet stuffer," Cavs coach Byron Scott said about Varejao, who had eight offensive rebounds, four assists, four steals and two blocks. "That's the one thing about Andy, he's going to do a little bit of everything."

Twice in the final minute, Gee got loose for breakaway dunks, leaving the Knicks to watch. He missed one, but Jamison was there to clean up for a layin. With the game out of reach in the final seconds, Anthony nonchalantly walked the ball up the floor as the Knicks accepted defeat.

It won't get easier as New York visits Miami on Friday night.

"I'm not worried playing against anybody," Chandler said. "We have enough talent on this team, but we have to figure out how to play with one another and what it's going to take to win games. We're inconsistent with everything we do. To be an elite team in this league, you have to be consistent every night and we lack that right now."

Cleveland's Omri Casspi scored 13, but did not return after having his chin split open and getting six stitches.

Anthony missed all seven of his field-goal attempts on Tuesday, failing to make a field goal for the first time since Nov. 28, 2005. He needed just 2:15 to get his first bucket, got fouled and completed a three-point play. His only point against Charlotte came on a technical foul in the third quarter.

But the Cavs never let Anthony get into the flow and Gee did a nice job defending him in the fourth, when New York's most lethal weapon went 1 of 3.

"Every time we play them they try to do a good job of getting the ball out of my hands and not let me do anything out there," Anthony said, "and tonight they did that. They kind of forced it out of my hands and made other guys try to win the game."

Notes: Knicks G Baron Davis has yet to play because of a herniated disk in his back and won't be back until the weekend - at the earliest. Davis was released in training camp by the Cavs, who were ready to turn their team over to rookie Kyrie Irving. "I wasn't surprised," Davis said. "They had an opportunity to move in a new direction with these young dudes and this young talent they have. I could tell the first day I was here that's what that was going to be the move." ... The Knicks picked up G Toney Douglas' fourth-year team option, keeping him under contract through 2012-13. Wednesday was the league's deadline for options and extensions. ... Cavs rookie F Tristan Thompson missed his second straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Notebook: Cavaliers 91, Knicks 81

By Brian Dulik, for NBA.com
Posted Wednesday January 25, 2012 11:49PM

THE FACTS: Center Anderson Varejao collected 10 points, a game-high 16 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocked shots in leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 91-81 victory over the New York Knicks. Power forward Antawn Jamison added 15 points for Cleveland, which snapped its four-game losing streak. Power forward Amar'e Stoudemire paced New York with 19 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, while small forward Carmelo Anthony scored 15 points.

QUOTABLE: "I've heard plenty of guys mumbling under their breath about Andy (Varejao) while they're running upcourt over the years. That's when I know he's getting under their skin, and I tell him to keep it up. Andy is my guy."
-- Cavaliers shooting guard Daniel Gibson

THE STAT: The Cavaliers have won nine straight games over New York at Quicken Loans Arena, dating back to Nov. 29, 2006. It is Cleveland's longest current winning streak over any team, and includes three victories in the post-LeBron James era. "I can't explain why we keep beating them, but I know we played very hard tonight," Varejao said. "We've got a young team, so we have to play up to our limit to be successful. We want to win as many games as we can to make the playoffs."

TURNING POINT: Anthony made two free throws to give the Knicks a 40-31 lead with 3:34 left in the second quarter, but Cleveland answered with a 14-1 run fueled by four New York turnovers. The Knicks never led again. Jamison buried two 3-pointers in the surge, while shooting guard Anthony Parker made a pair of mid-range jumpers. "We all felt pretty good at that point because, offensively, we couldn't throw the ball in the ocean," Cavaliers coach Byron Scott said.

QUOTABLE II: "I love to watch Andy because he's got unbelievable energy every night and always gives 100 percent. I'm a big fan of his, and I don't think he gets enough credit for how well he plays."
-- Cavaliers power forward Samardo Samuels.

HOT: Cavaliers center Ryan Hollins scored a season-high nine points in just 11 minutes, while Samuels had six points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. Shooting guard Alonzo Gee added seven points, including a windmill breakaway dunk, as Cleveland's bench outscored the Knicks' reserves 33-16 and outrebounded them 16-8. "Everybody seemed to pitch in tonight," Scott said. "Our guys were really focusing on stopping the bleeding, especially here at home."

NOT: Anthony shot 5-of-14 from the floor, making him 40-of-126 on field goal attempts (.317) over his last six games. "I can't really put my finger on it right now," he said. "We have to just go back and look at it, and see what happened." ... The Knicks committed 23 turnovers with Stoudemire making a game-high six. ... New York was held to seven field goals in each of the final two periods, going 14-of-37 (.378) during that timeframe. ... The Knicks fell to 1-7 since Jan. 12.

QUOTABLE III: "The last two or three games, we've had 20-some turnovers. Taking that, with our anemic offense, you can't generate a win. We've got to find a way to score. We have some things that have to be solved."
-- Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni

GOOD MOVE: Scott opened the fourth quarter with five substitutes on the floor. Hollins, Samuels, Gee, Gibson, and point guard Ramon Sessions responded by holding the Knicks scoreless for 3:26. That group extended Cleveland's lead from 69-64 to 75-67 before the veteran coach began re-inserting his starters with 7:44 left. "Our focus was there for 48 minutes tonight," Scott said. "Everybody was really in tune with what we needed to do on the defensive end."

BAD MOVE: Knicks center Tyson Chandler was called for a technical foul with 5:03 left in the fourth after striking Varejao on the jaw with his right hand. The incident occurred as they jostled for position on a Gibson free throw that extended the Cavaliers' advantage to 84-73. "That shouldn't have been a technical foul," Chandler said. "He was on my back on every play and free throw. Hopefully the league looks at it and sees what really happened."

NOTABLE: Cavaliers rookie point guard Kyrie Irving -- the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft -- tied his career high with seven assists, but went 1-of-7 shooting and scored seven points. ... Cleveland small forward Omri Casspi required six stitches to close a cut on his chin. He was injured while fouling New York guard Landry Fields 30 feet from the basket as the shot clock expired. ... Parker matched his season free throw total in one game by attempting four. ... The Cavaliers improved to 1-4 in the second half of back-to-back sets. ... Chandler had 11 points and nine rebounds, while Fields was the Knicks' third-leading scorer with 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting.

UP NEXT: For the Knicks, Friday @ Miami, Saturday @ Houston, Tuesday vs. Detroit. For the Cavaliers, Friday vs. Nets, Sunday @ Boston, Tuesday vs. Boston.

• Knicks: Davis, Harrellson
• Cavaliers: Thompson, Thompson

• Knicks: Chandler
• Cavaliers: --

• Lead Changes: 6
• Times Tied: 7

• Arena: Quicken Loans Arena, Cleveland, OH
• Officials: #55 Bill Kennedy, #35 Kane Fitzgerald, #52 Scott Twardoski
• Attendance: 16760
• Duration: 2:09