Game Recap

Charlie Widdoes

With Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis among the Knicks in street clothes, it was an opportunity for other teammates to shine in tonight's season finale in Indy. New York shot 72 percent from the field in the first quarter and held a lead midway through the third quarter, but a 17-2 run vaulted the Pacers ahead en route to a 102-90 victory.

Making his seventh straight start, Derrick Williams led all scorers with 21 points (8-for-11 FG, 4-for-7 from 3) and Jerian Grant delivered another strong performance with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

Grant takes the honor by capping off a six-game starting run just one point shy of the career high he set on Sunday. The rookie continued to show poise and leadership at the end of a promising first NBA season.

Robin Lopez played 22 minutes, finishing with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists. He became the first Knicks center to start in all 82 games since Patrick Ewing in 1991-92.

The Knicks fell to 0-10 this season without Anthony.

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NYK 90, IND 102: Grant, Williams Shine in Season Finale

Still alive for the best record and top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference, Toronto played its All-Star backcourt of Kyle Lowry and DeMar DeRozan over 30 minutes each in the Knicks' final home game this season. New York hung around, using a 10-0 run in the fourth quarter, and tied the game on multiple occasions down the stretch, but the Raptors prevailed, 93-89, in an exciting finish on Fan Appreciation Night at The Garden.

Jerian Grant followed up a career-high-tying 16-point performance in Philadelphia on Friday night by setting a new one with 19 tonight. The rookie continued to show progress in his fifth consecutive start, converting an acrobatic, lefty finish and-1 to tie the game at 84 with just over three minutes left, and finishing with a game-high three steals. 

Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points, with 6 rebounds and 3 assists in just under 25 minutes. Sasha Vujacic (13 points, 8 assists) and Robin Lopez (10 points) also scored in double figures.

The season finale comes Tuesday in Indiana. Coverage tips off at 7 p.m. on MSG.

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NYK 89, TOR 93: Grant Sets Career High but Raptors Prevail

Carmelo Anthony had 18 points by halftime, but the Knicks held just a three-point lead over the Sixers heading to the break. In the second half, New York would need a complete team effort to hang on for a 109-102 victory after Philadelphia clawed back from a 19-point deficit to pull to wthin two with under a minute to play.

With Anthony on the bench for the entire fourth quarter, Robin Lopez and Jerian Grant led the charge as all five starters scored in double figures to help preserve the win at Wells Fargo Center. Robert Covington scored 30 poins to help fuel the home team's comeback attempt.

Not only did Lopez score 14 of his team-high 24 points in the third quarter to help the Knicks separate in the second half, but his 15 rebounds and three blocked shots helped set the tone down low. He pulled down clutch rebounds on both ends of the court in the final minute to help seal the win.

Grant was scoreless in the first half, but finished with 16 in the game after erupting for 13 in the third quarter. The rookie point guard also dished out six assists and pulled down 5 rebounds...Sasha Vujacic also scored 16 points, shooting 2 of 3 from downtown.

Lopez and Grant combined for 27 of the Knicks' 33 third-quarter points.

The Knicks' final home game is Sunday -- Fan Appreciation Night against the Toronto Raptors.

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NYK 109, PHI 102: Lopez Clutch as Knicks Hang On

Six Knicks scored in double figures, but it wasn't enough as the playoff-bound Hornets shot 12-for-26 from downtown en route to a 111-97 victory at Madison Square Garden. Derrick Williams beat the buzzer with a corner 3 to cut Charlotte's lead to one at halftime, but Steve Clifford's club reeled off a 9-2 run coming out of the break and never looked back. 

Bronx native Kemba Walker led all scorers with 34 points and Al Jefferson came off the bench to add 24.

Williams was key to the Knicks' strong start, scoring 13 of his team-high 17 points in the first half. Making his fourth straight start in place of Kristaps Porzingis (shoulder), Williams also pulled down 10 rebounds to lead New York.

Porzingis and Jose Calderon (quad) were both unavailable and are considered "day-to-day."...Sasha Vujacic (16 points, 4-for-5 from 3), Carmelo Anthony (15), Jerian Grant (14), Arron Afflalo (11) and Langston Galloway (10) joined the balanced scoring effort. 

The Knicks head to Philly to take on the 76ers on Friday night before returning home to host the Raptors on Sunday -- Fan Appreciation Night.

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NYK 97, CHA 111: Six Knicks Score in Double Figures in Loss

A close contest with the crosstown rivals opened up with a 9-0 New York run to start the second half, and the home team never looked back. Jerian Grant (14 points, 4 assists) started his first NBA game in place of injured Jose Calderon (quad), joining four other Knicks in double-figure scoring en route to a comfortable 105-91 victory.

The Knicks shot 12 for 18 from downtown from the second quarter on, blitzing their cross-town rivals to even the season series at two games apiece. Derrick Williams (16 points, 4-for-4 from 3) and Langston Galloway (18 points, 4-for-6 3P) led the long-range barrage.

Galloway earns the honor for his all-around effort; the second-year guard responded to extended minutes by shooting 7 for 11 from the floor, with seven assists and six rebounds. He also added a buzzer-beater to end the first half and a hustle play diving into the first row of seats in an attempt to save a ball.

Carmelo Anthony led a few Knicks veterans to offer some of their minutes in the interest of developing their younger teammates, and the youngsters took advantage of the opportunity tonight: Grant recovered from an errant first shot attempt to knock down two of four 3s and create offense with his burst off the dribble; Cleanthony Early returned from Westchester to score seven points, with six rebounds and three assists; and Kevin Seraphin added 12 points and seven boards...Anthony played 25 minutes and scored 13 points.

Entering tonight, the all-time Knicks-Nets series was tied 91-91 in the regular season and 5-5 in the playoffs. With the win, the Knicks jump ahead until next season...

After a day off, the Knicks will face Indiana on Sunday night at MSG.

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NYK 105, BKN 91: Youngsters Carry Knicks to Victory

The Knicks got out to a fast start for the second straight game, building a lead that would grow to 11 in the second half tonight in Dallas. But nine costly fourth quarter turnovers opened the door for a Mavericks comeback, setting up an exciting finish to a back-and-forth affair.

Derrick Williams (15 points, 8 rebounds) made his first four shot attempts and Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 31 points, setting New York up for a chance to win as a game went down to the wire. Both made key plays down the stretch -- Williams two key offensive rebounds, Anthony a three-point play to put the Knicks ahead by one in the final minute -- but J.J. Barea nailed the decisive layup as Dallas hung on for the 91-89 victory.

Anthony had a shot to take the lead, driving left to draw contact with his defender, Wesley Matthews, but no foul call came as the ball glanced out of bounds. Barea finished with 26 points off the bench.

Anthony provided the boost the Knicks needed out of halftime, scoring 10 points in the third quarter. With Kristaps Porzingis (sore left shoulder) out, he was efficient (11-for-22 shooting) and aggressive on offense, finishing 7 for 7 from the free throw line.

Porzingis did not dress for the game. He suffered the injury while blocking a dunk attempt on Wednesday, and Rambis said he'll have an MRI when the team returns to New York...Jose Calderon did not return after halftime due to a quad injury. X-rays were negative...It was a rare off night for Dirk Nowitzki, who finished with 11 points on 5-for-23 shooting.

The Knicks will fly home after the game. A matchup with the Nets looms on Frdiay at Madison Square Garden.

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NYK 89, DAL 91: Melo Scores 31 in Tight Loss

In a back-and-forth affair, the shorthanded Pelicans overcame a strong New York start for a 99-91 victory. The Knicks shot 51 percent in the first half, but watched a 10-point lead disappear as they shot just 3 for 21 in the third quarter -- at one point missing 14 consecuctive shots. 

Carmelo Anthony (22 points) would make his first four attempts in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 75, but Jrue Holiday scored 10 of his 22 points to carry New Orleans down the stretch.

Kristaps Porzingis attempted just 10 shots, but the rookie made an impact in all facets of the game: He made his first three shots and scored seven of his 16 points in the first quarter, adding 10 rebounds and three blocks for his third double-double in the last four games.

In front of a suite full of friends and family, Baton Rouge, New Orleans native Langston Galloway finished with eight points and four assists in 22 minutes.

It was the Pelicans' first win this season when scoring fewer than 100 points.

The Knicks fly to Dallas tonight to get ready for Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks on Wednesday.

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NYK 91, NOP 99: Knicks Fall After Strong Start

After defeating the Bulls on consecutive nights, the Knicks ran into a Cleveland team motivated to bounce back from Thursday night's loss in Brooklyn. And behind a triple-double from LeBron James (27 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), the Cavs flexed their muscles en route to a 107-93 victory. 

New York responded to a 24-point halftime deficit with a 40-point third quarter, but it wasn't enough against the Eastern Conference leaders; after a brief rest to start the fourth, James would re-enter to help seal the deal. 

Carmelo Anthony poured in 23 of his 28 points in the second half to help cut the deficit to 10, but that was the closest the Knicks would get. 

Kristaps Porzingis accounted for 12 of New York's 32 first-half points and would finish with 19, six rebounds and three assists. In a tough matchup with Kevin Love (28 points and 12 rebounds), the rookie held his own and didn't back down all night.

Langston Galloway did not play in the first half, but the second-year guard took advantage of 19 minutes after halftime to finish with five points and four assists, in addition to his trademark tough defense...Derrick Williams finished with 11 points, shooting 7 for 9 from the free throw line.