Unhappy Homecoming: Hawks halt Knicks

Unhappy Homecoming: Hawks halt Knicks

ERIK S. LESSER/EPA

Josh Smith (c.) dunks the ball over Knicks forward Steve Novak (l.) and Josh Harrellson, as the Knicks allow Atlanta to shoot 51 percent from the field.

ATLANTA HAWKS 100, NY KNICKS 90

ATLANTA It wasnt the homecoming Mike Woodson anticipated and it certainly wasnt the ending anyone, especially Carmelo Anthony, expected.

With a couple of All Stars, Anthony and Joe Johnson, on the floor, the player that dominated the fourth quarter was Willie Green, a journeyman guard who has a knack for playing well against the Knicks.

Green scored 15 of his 20 points in the final period as the Hawks defeated the Knicks 100-90 Friday night. Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points and Josh Smith scored 23 but it was Green who made every clutch shot, including a pair of jumpers after Anthony cut Atlantas lead to 80-78 with nine minutes left. The basket was Anthonys lone fourth quarter field goal. He led all scorers with 36 points on 11-for-24 shooting, including 1- for-5 in the fourth.

Iman Shumpert, who played his college ball at nearby Georgia Tech, added 25 but he and Anthony were the only two Knicks to score in double figures. The bench scored just 14 points with JR Smith shooting 2-for-10. The loss dropped the Knicks to 26-26 overall while Atlanta, a team Woodson coached of six years, improved to 31-22.

The Knicks played their third straight game without Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin. When the status of both starters was addressed early Friday, Woodson created a media firestorm when he said he didnt know when or if both Lin and Stoudemire would play again this season.

Still day to day, Woodson said. Amares out. Had his epidural shot yesterday. Hes day to day with Lin. I have no idea when these guys are going to return, if theyre going to return. I just dont know.

Woodson also revealed that Lin had an MRI on his sore left knee and that he didnt know the results. The Knicks scra mbled to clarify Woodsons remarks, claiming that Lin could be available for Tuesdays game against Indiana. In fact, Woodson then did an about face and said hes not ruling out Lin for Saturdays home game against Cleveland. Stoudemire is out at least two weeks with a bulging disc in his back.

Lins code of silence has only added to the mystery. The media darling has suddenly turned camera shy. He declined to speak to reporters early Friday and went out of his way to avoid the media 90 minutes prior to last nights game.

The Knicks nearly had as many turnovers (11) as field goals (15) in the first half which is why they found themselves trailing 52-40. Anthony scored 19 of the Knicks 40 points but he was having a difficult time keeping Josh Smith away from the basket. Smith scored 17 including a pair of thunderous dunks.

Smiths put back dunk gave Atlanta a 57-44 third quarter lead but Sumpert answered with a 3-pointer and the Knicks slowly crawled their way back into it. Anthony scored 12 points including a deep three with 0.8 seconds left in the period.

It was Anthonys three-point play with 9:08 left that closed the Hawks lead to 80-78. The Knicks had a chance to draw even but Davis missed badly on a driving lay-up. After Willie Green hit his third straight shot, Woodson called time out in order to remove Davis and go back with Shumpert, who was by far the Knicks best two-way player.

His post defense on Smith frustrated the Hawks forward. True, it doesnt take much to throw Smith off his game but Shumperts strength and quickness were enough to put Smith, who received a third quarter technical, over the top.

So with Smith on the verge of a meltdown, the ball starting finding Green, who has a history of playing well against the Knicks dating back to his days with the Sixers. Green had two baskets during a 9-0 Hawks run and after J.R. Smiths 3-pointer cut Atlantas lead to 91 -84, Green hit two more jumpers including a corner 3-pointer and his two free throws with 3:21 left made it 96-84.

The Knicks looked to be dead and buried but Shumpert scored four quick points but Green answered with a runner and Johnsons floater made it a 10-point game with 1:48 left.