5. Closing The Free Throw Gap After allowing 60 combined free throws over the last two games, the Knicks closed the gap at the charity stripe on Friday evening. Utah attempted 25 free throws compared to 20 for the orange and blue. New York finished 85 percent at the free throw line for the night.
4. Hayward’s Impact
Gordon Hayward continues to impress this season and he’s quickly becoming a star in this league. The small forward showcased his all-around skill set on Friday by scoring 33 points on 11-for-18 shooting from the floor to go along with six assists and four steals. Hayward is the unquestioned go-to player on the Jazz and he was the key to Utah’s road win in New York.
3. Shumpert’s Absence
Early in the first quarter, Iman Shumpert was forced to the locker room due to a right hip contusion. X-Rays were negative and there is no timetable for his return. Head coach Derek Fisher adjusted on the fly by utilizing Travis Wear for 15 minutes and Pablo Prigioni for extended time off the bench.
2. Hat Tip To Pablo
Knicks fans have to appreciate Prigioni’s nine-point fourth quarter on Friday night. The 37-year old sparked a 7-1 run to start the final period and ignited New York’s offense to turn a one-point deficit into a five-point advantage with 7:50 to go in the contest. Prigioni’s performance was admirable, considering the loss of Shumpert in the first quarter and the absence of the projected starter prior to the season, Jose Calderon.
1. Melo’s Monster Night
Anthony erupted for a season in the NBA this year and his best outing of the 2014-15 campaign. 12 of Anthony’s 26 shots occurred in the paint as he attacked Hayward, Trevor Booker, Alec Burks, and any other defender Quin Snyder’s staff threw at him. Anthony not only hit the 3-pointer to tie the game but he dropped 46 points on an incredible 61.5 percent shooting from the floor. In addition to 16 trips to the free throw line, Anthony snatched a team-high seven boards.