Antawn Jamison and Anthony Parker celebrate during the final seconds. (Jason Miller / US PRESSWIRE) Tribune News Services
CLEVELAND -- Off Broadway, New York's new hoops show was no hit.
Carmelo Anthony missed a key late free throw and fouled out of his first road game with the Knicks, who took Cleveland too lightly and were embarrassed and beaten 115-109 on Friday night by the fired-up Cavaliers.
Anthony, acquired earlier this week from Denver in a blockbuster trade, finished with 27 points but missed a foul shot with 25 seconds left that would have brought New York within two. Amare Stoudemire had 31 points and Chauncey Billups, the other guy in the Anthony deal, scored 20 of his 26 in the fourth trying to rally the Knicks.
Antawn Jamison scored 28, J.J. Hickson 24 and Ramon Sessions 22 for the Cavs, who have beaten New York twice this season.
The Knicks must have been reading their press clippings following a tsunami of publicity in recent days after finally landing Anthony, the Brooklyn-born superstar. His arrival had even the most cynical New York fans finally believing pro basketball was back in the Big Apple.
The Cavaliers came in with the league's worst record, but they were the ones who looked like a team with playoff potential as they consistently outworked the Knicks for loose balls. Cleveland outrebounded New York 62-42, an inexcusable stat for the Knicks.
Cleveland didn't even have its newest star, point guard Baron Davis, who has yet to arrive after being obtained in a deadline day deal from the Los Angeles Clippers. But as the Cavs were putting the Knicks away in the fourth, Davis did check in on his Twitter account.
"Loving the energy I'm seeing," he wrote.
If not for Billups, who was saddled with three quick fouls in the first half, the Knicks would have really been embarrassed.
Mr. Big Shot made plenty of them, scoring 20 of New York's 28 points in one stretch. His layup with 1:17 left pulled the Knicks within 105-103 and Stoudemire's bucket made it 107-105 with 49 seconds to go.
But that's when Cleveland's Daniel Gibson hit the game's biggest shot, drilling a 3-pointer with 30 seconds remaining.
Anthony, who had 16 points in the first quarter, was quiet in the fourth before driving the lane, hitting a runner and picking up a foul with 25.8 seconds left. Anthony, though, missed his free throw and then picked up his sixth personal trying to wrestle the ball away from Sessions.
Anthony then spent the final seconds on the bench as Sessions made five free throws in the last 24 seconds to ice it for Cleveland.
The new-look Knicks are a work in progress. Their talent is undeniable, but they don't have any chemistry and it could take some time for it develop. At times, Anthony and Stoudemire seemed to be playing on different teams. There was little ball movement as the Knicks seemed content to launch shots and hope they'd drop.
The Knicks haven't had very much practice time since Anthony arrived, and coach Mike D'Antoni has been trying to work out the kinks as players get accustomed to each other. D'Antoni hasn't had enough time to fully open his expansive offensive playbook.
"We need everybody to learn the plays and the ball will go where it needs to go," he said.
The Cavs are still waiting for Davis, Semih Erden and Luke Harangody, two young big men acquired in a trade with Boston, to arrive. All three are expected to get to Cleveland on Saturday, take their physicals and play Sunday when the Cavs host Philadelphia.
Scott spoke to Davis on Thursday night, and said the point guard is excited about coming to Cleveland. The two clashed when they were together in New Orleans, but have since patched up their differences.
"We laughed about how people don't think we can stand one another," Scott said. "He's excited about a new start and I'm excited about reuniting with him."
Source: http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2011/02/cavs-beat-knicks-for-2nd-time-this-season.html
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