The Knicks were missing Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin again on Wednesday night but that didn't stop Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler from dominating the Magic.
Carmelo stepped up in a much needed way. Anthony who put up 25 points in the first 3 quarters of play, gave the Knicks a big lead and some much needed rest in the 4th quarter. Anthony sat out the final quarter as he is still battling a groin injury that has effected him in a major way, the last week.
But Anthony is throwing the pain away and fighting through it to help the Knicks push through this difficult stretch run. "It's been a rocky season for us. A lot has been going on, a lot happened, but right now with the coaching change, we've been playing extremely well. We've been really locked in," Anthony stated after the big win in regards to the head coaching change and the injuries to Stoudemire and Lin.
Rookie Iman Shumpert also contributed big with a career high in points with 25. Shumpert was strong from the field including a 4-10 night from behind the three point line. After the game Shumpert said, "They're double-teaming 'Melo and I haven't been shooting the ball much and I do shoot it, I haven't been shooting it well so they are leaving me open. I am going to get more shots and I have to step into it with confidence and knock them down."
It was a big win for the Knicks who now sit 2 and a half games ahead of the 9th place Milwaukee Bucks for the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Knicks go to Atlanta on Friday for another big game with a playoff team.
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