Pistons-Knicks Preview

By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN
Posted Nov 24 2012 9:29PM

The New York Knicks turned in some strong defense during their 8-1 start, but that disappeared over the club's first set of consecutive losses.

The Knicks will look to regroup Sunday and try to remain perfect at Madison Square Garden as they meet an improving Detroit Pistons team.

New York (8-3) was limiting opponents to 42.9 percent shooting over its first nine games but that figure ballooned to 50.6 in its last two - a 114-111 loss at Dallas on Wednesday and a 131-103 defeat to Houston two nights later.

"These last two games haven't been us," forward Carmelo Anthony said. "We've been fighting, especially in Dallas (and) an uphill battle tonight. Giving up thirty-something points in three quarters, that's not our identity so we've got to get back to doing what we do best."

The Knicks surrendered at least 30 points in five straight quarters over the two contests, with Houston totaling 104 entering the fourth in Friday's blowout.

"I know throughout the course of the year or the season you have games like this, but it's not acceptable," coach Mike Woodson said. "We just weren't ready to play and that's on me."

Woodson lamented the fact he won't be able to run a practice for the Knicks due to Sunday's matinee start time.

New York is 4-0 at home, where it has won five straight over Detroit (3-10). The Knicks limited the Pistons to 39.6 percent shooting in winning all three matchups last season by an average of 24.0 points.

The Pistons could be more competitive this season as winners of three of five since their 0-8 start. Detroit is still seeking its first set of back-to-back victories after beating Toronto 91-90 at home on Friday.

Brandon Knight converted a layup with 7.8 seconds left and rookie Andre Drummond had his first career double-double in a season-high 24 minutes. Drummond finished with 13 points and 13 boards - eight offensive.

"Obviously it was tough to keep him off the offensive glass and had key blocked shots, but I think his energy kept the crowd in the game and that's what we needed," Tayshaun Prince said. "Now we find it differently. We know he's not going to get every offensive rebound like he was tonight, but if we can get the same energy it would help us out."

Greg Monroe added his seventh double-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists for the Pistons, who had been 0-4 in games decided by four points or fewer.

"With such a young group, I liked the way we composed ourselves," coach Lawrence Frank said. "We're happy with the poise our guys showed down the stretch."

Composure was a problem for New York on Friday. Anthony, who scored a season-high 37 points, was whistled for a technical as he attempted a season-low two free throws.

"It gets frustrating out there," Anthony said. "You do your best to try to get fouled, go to the hole, create something, it don't happen, that gets frustrating."

Knicks rout Pistons, end losing streak at 2 games

By BRIAN MAHONEY
Posted Nov 25 2012 6:25PM

NEW YORK (AP) Toasted in Texas, the New York Knicks fixed things on their home floor.

Now it's right back on the road - or subway, for those so inclined - for the first chance to claim city supremacy.

Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points in just 32 minutes, and the Knicks ended a two-game losing streak with a 121-100 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday.

Steve Novak added a season-high 18 and JR Smith had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who started 8-1 and had the Eastern Conference's best record before a couple of defenseless performances in Texas spanning the Thanksgiving holiday. They were much better Sunday, improving to 5-0 at home.

"We just kind of had a lapse those two games, I would like to think, and tonight was a lot better," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said.

New York takes the short trip to Brooklyn on Monday to face the Nets, a game that was supposed to be the season opener for both teams and the first matchup since the Nets moved from New Jersey before it was postponed because of Superstorm Sandy.

"If we don't get up for this game, then I don't know what games we'll get up for," said Anthony, a Brooklyn native. "It's an inner-city game, New York vs. Brooklyn. To me, going back home, going back to my borough, playing my first game back there is a very special moment for myself."

Brandon Knight scored 21 points and Charlie Villanueva had 17 for the Pistons, who have lost six straight games at Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks have been a much-improved defensive team under Woodson but had a slipup at the end of their road trip, allowing 114 points in a loss at Dallas and then yielding 131 while getting blown out Friday in Houston.

"It was just defense," Knicks forward Rasheed Wallace said. "I think we were a little bit tired coming off that back to back. Being on the road so much for this past month, we were bound to run out of gas sooner or later. But good bounce back today, just played Knicks basketball and Knicks defense."

They were much sharper Sunday, save for a few minutes where they seemed to ease up after building a 20-point halftime lead. New York was 17 of 33 from 3-point range (51.5 percent) and recorded its highest point total of the season.

"We have to give a better effort as far as not giving up those 3s," Knight said. "That's what they do best, that's what we came into the game trying to do. We did a poor job defensively."

Wallace scored 15 points against his former team, and Raymond Felton had 14 points and 10 assists as the Knicks beat the Pistons for the fourth straight time. Wallace was back after missing a game with a sore left foot.

Anthony made four 3-pointers after hitting seven and scoring a season-high 37 in Friday's loss. He never needed to play in the fourth quarter, the Knicks blowing it open for good while he was getting his usual rest to begin the period.

The Pistons started 0-8 before winning three of their next five, but were back to being bad on Sunday. They committed 20 turnovers, leading to 33 points.

"How many minutes of defense did we play? I don't know, but I know it's not nearly good enough to do and we've got to take care of the ball," Pistons coach Lawrence Frank said.

Anthony was 6 of 7 in the first quarter, hitting all three 3-pointers and scoring 15 points as the Knicks opened a 32-22 lead. The Knicks closed the first half with an 18-6 run, taking a 64-44 lead to the locker room. They got help from the Pistons, who turned it over 12 times in the half, leading to 19 points.

But the Knicks left their intensity behind when they returned for the second half. They slumped back to the bench for a timeout after Kyle Singler left Jason Kidd standing still on a baseline cut for a layup, capping a 13-3 spurt to open the third quarter that cut the deficit to 67-57. Detroit got within eight later in the period, but Novak hit a couple of 3-pointers and the Knicks were back up 86-72 after three.

New York finished it off with a 10-3 burst in the fourth, extending a 10-point lead to 98-81 on another 3-pointer by Novak.

NOTES: The next meeting between the teams will take place in London on Jan. 17. ... Wallace, who played on the Pistons' 2004 NBA championship team (with Woodson as an assistant), still has a Detroit jacket hanging in his locker. ... Woodson said he had no update on Amare Stoudemire, who had left knee surgery Oct. 31 and was expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Notebook: Knicks 121, Pistons 100

Adam Zagoria, for NBA.com
Posted Sun Nov 25, 2012 3:56 PM - Updated Sun Nov 25, 2012 3:56 PM

THE FACTS: Carmelo Anthony scored a game-best 29 points to help the Knicks snap a two-game losing skid and remain unbeaten at home with a 121-100 victory over the lowly Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.

Steve Novak added 18 points off the bench, making 5-of-7 from beyond the arc, for the Knicks, who had lost back-to-back contests at Dallas and at Houston before returning home to blow out Detroit (3-11).

J.R. Smith had a double-double of 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists and Rasheed Wallace added 15 points.

Brandon Knight led Detroit with 21 points, Charlie Villaneuva added 17 and Kyle Singler 16.

QUOTABLE: "We didn't play as good as we wanted to the last two games so we knew it was important to come out today in front of the Garden and make sure we played a lot better." -- Novak on MSG.

THE STAT: The Knicks' 64 first-half points marked are a season-high first-half total for them.

THE STAT II: The Knicks shot 17-for-33 from beyond the arc. Ten different Knicks took at least one 3-pointer.

TURNING POINT: Anthony scored 15 points in a first quarter in which the Knicks jumped out to a 32-22 lead. After the Pistons closed to within 38-34, the Knicks rattled off a 26-10 run -- featuring 3-pointers from Novak (2), Smith and Kidd -- to push the lead to 64-44 at the break.

QUOTABLE II: "Novak was good today. He made shots and we're going to need him to make shots as we go through this journey. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson.

HOT: Coming off a 37-point outing in Friday's loss at Houston, Anthony has now tallied 66 points in his last two games.

NOT: Knicks backup point guard Pablo Prigioni entered the game 3-for-15 from beyond the arc and went 0-for-1 from deep in the game. He finished with three points and two assists.

QUOTABLE III: "Our defense held in there and we made some shots to give us the cushion that we needed." -- Woodson

NOTABLE: Woodson said there was no timetable for Amar'e Stoudemire's return from a left knee debridement. "Still treatments and getting himself ready to go," he said.

NOTABLE II: On Monday, the Knicks will face their New York City rivals, the Brooklyn Nets, in the first of four meetings. The game will take place at the Barclays Center and will be broadcast nationally on TNT (7 p.m).

QUOTABLE IV: "It would concern me if we were jacking up 33 3's in a game and we weren't making them...We got guys that can make them." -- Woodson

INSIDE THE ARENA: Darryl Strawberry, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Ben Stiller, Gerry Cooney, Miguel Cotto, Edie Falco and Aziz Ansari sat courtside.

UP NEXT: For the Knicks: Monday @ Brooklyn, Wednesday @ Milwaukee, Friday vs. Washington. For the Pistons: Monday vs. Portland, Wednesday vs. Phoenix, Friday @ Memphis.

• Pistons: Kravtsov, Middleton
• Knicks: Shumpert, Stoudemire

• Pistons: --
• Knicks: Wallace

• Lead Changes: 5
• Times Tied: 4

• Arena: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
• Officials: #43 Dan Crawford, #68 Marat Kogut, #65 Sean Wright
• Attendance: 19033
• Duration: 2:14