Carmelo Anthony scored 41 points, Amare Stoudemire had 20 points and 10 rebounds in his return from a cut hand, and the New York Knicks snapped an NBA-record, 13-game postseason losing streak by beating the Miami Heat 89-87 Sunday in Game 4 of their first-round series. Â Read more after the jump.
Amar’e Stoudemire had one good hand. Baron Davisdislocated his right patella in the third quarter. Center Tyson Chandler was in foul trouble for key stretches of the third and fourth quarters. The Knicks were awful from three-point line.
And the Heat were itching to close out the first-round Eastern series and rest while awaiting their next opponent.
But forward Carmelo Anthony turned in the kind of playoff performance — 41 points, six rebounds, four assists — the Knicks desperately needed, leading New York to an 89-87 victory against the Heat and avoiding a sweep.
Anthony’s three-pointer with 54.5 seconds left gave New York an 87-84 lead, and his free throw with 25.9 seconds remaining made it 88-84.
Anthony answered his critics who blasted his playoff winning percentage (32%) and his performance against the Heat after Game 3.
“I thought Melo and Stat (Stoudemire) were huge tonight. We needed a big game out of both of those guys to get over the hump,” interim Knicks coach Mike Woodson said.
The Knicks also ended their NBA-record 13-game postseason losing streak, winning a playoff game for the first time 2001. It was the first postseason win for Anthony and Stoudemire in Knicks uniforms. The Boston Celtics swept New York in the first round last season.
“We gave it our all tonight,” Anthony said. “We rallied the troops that we weren’t ready to go home yet. … As long as we leave everything on the court, we could go home happy.”
Stoudemire, who missed Game 3 after his self-inflicted hand injury following the Game 2 loss required stitches, was outstanding with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Any questions about Anthony and Stoudemire co-existing in New York temporarily were answered. They scored 69% of New York’s points and the Heat had few answers for them.
Game 5 is Wednesday in Miami.
