How It Happened:
After falling behind by 11 points, the Knicks rallied in their preseason finale due to a third quarter offensive explosion. Led by some hot shooting from Carmelo Anthony, New York outscored the home team 32-21, which generated a nine-point advantage heading into the final frame. Joakim Noah was the offensive catalyst early in the contest but Anthony and Courtney Lee provided the biggest boost in the game changing third quarter. By defeating Brooklyn 116-111, the Knicks finished 4-2 in preseason action, including two victories over the Nets.
Knick of the Night:
Anthony’s offensive productivity is expected. While Anthony registered a team-high 21 points, Courtney Lee looked solid for the second straight game. Lee finished with 15 points on an efficient 7-of-8 shooting from the floor in 28 minutes of action. The new Knicks acquisition added five boards, two assists, and two steals to his final box score.
Statistically Speaking:
Both teams combined to launch 57 three-pointers on Thursday evening.
News and Notes:
Derrick Rose was not with the team on Thursday night but is expected to watch film with head coach Jeff Hornacek tomorrow to catch up on offensive and defensive schemes. The plan is to have Rose officially return to practice on Saturday morning. Sasha Vujacic started at the point guard position and Brandon Jennings replaced him off the bench.
Next Up:
The preseason officially concluded on Thursday night for the Knicks. The front office will need to trim the roster to 15 on Friday in preparation for the season opener on Tuesday. The squad will resume practice on Saturday following a day off to recover from the back-to-back.
