The smile is back on Carmelo Anthony’s face, broad and beaming and wholly subject to interpretation. There is happiness there, to be sure, but also likely relief and perhaps some satisfaction.
Anthony’s mood has brightened unmistakably in the past seven days, coinciding with a new winning streak and a change in coaches from Mike D’Antoni to Mike Woodson.
There was plenty for everyone to enjoy on Tuesday night as the New York Knicks rolled past the Toronto Raptors, 106-87, stretching their winning streak to four games under Woodson, each victory by 14 points or greater.
Photo: Reuters
“They are a tenacious, different team,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “It’s amazing, their tenacity, the way they attack. If you don’t meet it, it takes you right out. And the Garden was a hot building tonight.”
Anthony had 17 points and struggled with his shot (five for 15), but he finished with a flourish, throwing an alley-oop to Tyson Chandler, then dunking himself on a pass from Amar’e Stoudemire to put the game away late in the fourth quarter.
Stoudemire played one of his best games since the All-Star break, with 22 points and 12 rebounds, and an eight-for-13 shooting performance. Jeremy Lin had 18 points and 10 assists as the Knicks (22-24) took a 2-1 edge in the season series with Toronto.
Anthony, who chafed under D’Antoni, has said recently that he feels re-energized, a certain byproduct of D’Antoni’s departure.
“He’s been playing phenomenal, he really has. He’s been facilitating. Teams have been double-teaming him, he’s been doing a great job of finding guys when they’re open. He’s been a great leader out there on the court,” Stoudemire said of Anthony.
Lin scored or assisted on the Knicks’ first four baskets of the second half as they pushed the lead to 11 points. They nearly blew open the game when Raptors center Aaron Gray helped give the Knicks a five-point possession with an off-the-ball foul and two technical fouls.
Gray was whistled for a foul on Chandler while Landry Fields was driving for a layup. Then Gray yelled at the officials, earning two straight technicals and an automatic ejection. When it was all over, the Knicks’ lead had jumped to 15 points. Toronto never got closer than eight in the fourth quarter.
“Everybody feels great, having fun, enjoying the game of basketball,” Stoudemire said. “And that’s what it’s about. When you enjoy doing your job, then it makes it much easier to play.”
The Knicks and Raptors complete their four-game series tomorrow night in Toronto, but first, the Knicks had a stopover in Philadelphia, where they were to play the Atlantic Division-leading 76ers yesterday.
The Knicks began the night a half-game ahead of Milwaukee for the final playoff spot, and four-and-a-half games behind the 76ers. Catching Philadelphia and winning the division would mean a top-four playoff spot. Short of that, there is still time for the Knicks to climb to the sixth spot and avoid a first-round matchup with Miami or Chicago.
“I can’t worry about what Milwaukee and Philly does,” Woodson said before the game. “We got to handle our own business.”
Lin was steady, resilient and occasionally brilliant with the ball. He sustained a bloody nose in the first quarter — which now seems routine — after an incidental smack from DeMar DeRozan, and was repeatedly banged around in the paint, which also seems routine. However, he kept driving and finding open teammates, reaching halftime with nine points and six assists. He added nine points in the third quarter.
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