Knicks welcome Carmelo Anthony back, shock Spurs
Jan 2, 2014; San Antonio, TX, USA; New York Knicks guard Iman Shumpert (21) reacts after a shot during the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at AT
The New York Knicks couldn’t have started 2014 any better.
Thursday night, against the San Antonio Spurs, the Knicks welcomed back Carmelo Anthony back into the lineup and did so by shocking the Spurs 105-101, as the Knicks opened their Texas road trip in San Antonio.
Anthony finished with his usual 27 points and 12 rebounds, but Iman Shumpert kind of stole the show. The 23-year-old guard scored a career-high 27 points on a cool 10 of 13 shooting (6 of 8 from three). With the win, the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak and improved (yes improved) to 10-21 on the season, only 3.5 games out of the 8th spot in the East playoffs.
To say the Spurs struggled would be an understatement, though.
The Spurs’ Marco Belinelli scored 32 points on 12-of-16 shooting. Tony Parker had 12 points on 5 of 12 shooting and Manu Ginobili finished with 11 points and 12 assists while no other Spurs’ player reached double figures.
It was no question a shocking win, but can (or will) it lead to a Knicks turnaround?
Knicks with a huge win in San Antonio to break their losing streak. Didn't see that one coming.
— Chris Herring (@Herring_NBA) January 3, 2014
Don’t bet on it, but…
New York will look to build of its undefeated start to 2014 tomorrow night against the Houston Rockets.