Anthony’s jumper, 35 points give Knicks OT win over Hornets

His next opportunity to return to the floor with come on Saturday as the Hornets host the Knicks for the back-end of a back-to-back doubleheader between the two teams. In fact, Hornets Head Coach Steve Clifford lamented after the game that double teaming Anthony does not even keep him off the scoreboard.

The Knicks are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 0 days rest and 1-6 ATS in their last 7 road games. “But we have to figure out things pretty soon before it becomes a problem”.

He showed flashes of his potential during his rookie season but he wasn’t really able to get it off. Walker is on track to play in 400 games with the franchise this season and would be only the fourth player to play in 400 games for Charlotte. “It was a long night physically”, he said.

The Knicks battled back from a 21-point, first-half deficit to take the lead briefly with 7:36 left in the game when Anthony drilled a turnaround jumper from the baseline.

Kaminsky hit a triple off a Ramon Sessions with four minutes to play and again off a Jeremy Lamb feed as Charlotte entered the final two minutes with a seven-point lead.

“They made the plays and we didn’t at the end”, Batum said.

Kristaps Porzingis is having an All-Star type season with the Knicks.

Derrick Rose and Kristaps Porzingis had 16 points each as the Knicks nothed their eighth win in 15 games.

As a team, Charlotte is second in the league in assists, ninth in rebounding and No. 12 in defense when it comes to points allowed.

The Knicks had been covering up for a lot of mistakes during their three-game winning streak, particularly their tendency to fall behind early and crawl into their traditional iso-shell late.

For the first time this season, the Hornets were without both Nicolas Batum (eye injury) and Marvin Williams (hyperextended left knee/bone bruise).

“Carmelo made them (Friday) night, maybe not (Saturday night)”, coach Jeff Hornacek said.

“There’s no excuses, ” Rose said.

Kemba Walker: His 18 first-half points were primarily about getting to the rim. They came out with the energy. “We’re going to have to have everyone fighting for the ball”. Charlotte is an average (4-4) team at home where it will play six of its next eight games.

They’ll need that. With four games between now and Saturday and a short-handed roster, this ride is in for more bumps. The New York Knicks are shooting 34.9 percent from beyond the arc and 76.5 percent from the free throw line. But Cody Zeller fought for the offensive rebound, was fouled and made one free throw. Anthony tied the game at 71-71 on his second three pointer of the game, but Marco Belinelli gave Charlotte the lead right back with a three of his own as the Hornets finished the third quarter with a 75-71 lead.

Westbrook shot just 8 for 22 from the field after scoring at least 30 points for eight straight games.

“We got to get off to better starts”, Hornacek said. “We just couldn’t pull it out”.