(Sports Network) - The unbeaten New York Knicks make a quick turnaround this
evening in the back end of a home-and-home series against the Philadelphia
76ers at Wells Fargo Center.
The Knicks disposed of the Atlantic Division-rival Sixers with Sunday
afternoon's 100-84 victory at Madison Square Garden.
Carmelo Anthony scored 30 points in a season-opening win over the Miami Heat
and netted 27 against the Sixers. J.R. Smith had 20 points and nine rebounds
off the bench, while Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton had 12 and 11 points,
respectively, for New York, which is off to its best start since winning three
in a row to begin the 1999-00 season.
"Not a lot of people are talking about the Knicks being one of those elite
teams in the NBA, but I think before it's over with they will be," Felton
said.
New York scored 20 points off 18 Philadelphia turnovers and made 50.6 percent
of its shots. It made just 11-of-27 3-pointers after sinking 19-of-36 attempts
from beyond the arc versus Miami.
The Knicks will head back to the Big Apple following tonight's game and are
slated to host Dallas on Friday. New York center Marcus Camby is still
bothered by a calf injury. A timetable for his return is unknown.
Philadelphia got its much-anticipated season off to a good start with a home
win over the Denver Nuggets, but were quickly disposed of by the Knicks
yesterday afternoon.
The Sixers' only lead was 2-0 and they made 43 percent of their shots. Jrue
Holiday, fresh off a new contract extension, scored a team-best 27 points and
Evan Turner notched 11 and 11 rebounds, including 10 on defense. Thaddeus
Young had 16 points and Dorell Wright 11 in defeat.
"I think the layoff hurt us a little bit. We didn't adjust to the speed of the
game or the physicality of the game early," Sixers coach Doug Collins said.
Sixers new guard Jason Richardson sprained his left ankle early in the first
quarter and did not return. He is day-to-day. Philadelphia is still without
big man Andrew Bynum, who is nursing sore knees and could return soon.
The 76ers will hit the road for three games against New Orleans, Boston and
Toronto after tonight's bout with New York.
Philadelphia lost two of three meetings with New York last season and is only
3-8 in the previous 11 matchups in this series. Anthony averaged 19.7 points,
7.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists against the 76ers last season.(
The Sports Network