Knicks Vs. Wizards: Carmelo Anthony Leads New York To Three-Point Win Over Washington

The Wizards losing streak continued on Friday night with a heartbreaking 99-96 loss to the New York Knicks at Verizon Center.

Carmelo Anthony hit a deep three pointer to give the Knicks a two point lead with 15 seconds remaining. At first glance, one had to wonder how a red hot Anthony had so much room as he was relatively wide open outside the arc. But replay showed Anthony catching Trevor Booker in the face and eye with his off hand. Booker reacted and grabbed his eye with that slight hesitation giving Anthony all the room he needed to drain the game winning three.

On the ensuing possession, John Wall would miss a go-ahead three pointer of his own. It was missed so badly, however, that the long rebound bounced right into the hand of Chris Singleton. Singleton rushed the put back which came up well short. The Knicks controlled the rebound but missed one of two free throw attempts to give the Wizards a chance to get off a game-tying three pointer. Nick Young's heave would draw the back of the iron, however, and Washington would drop their seventh in a row to open the 2011-12 season.

Anthony was on fire in the fourth quarter, as the Knicks continually fed 'Melo both in the post and on the wing. He finished with a game-high 37 points. Nick Young led the Wizards with 24 points, while Wall added 22 points. Wall really pushed the pace in the fourth, hitting a couple miraculous up-and-under layups in traffic. - including one which gave the Wiz the lead before Anthony's three pointer. He finished 10 of 22 from the floor with nine assists and five turnovers.

Washington will now try for the first win on Sunday when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For more on the Wizards, please visit Bullets Forever, SB Nation's Wizards blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit SB Nation New York and Posting and Toasting, SB Nation's Knicks blog.

After one half of play at Verizon Center, the Washington Wizards have a one point lead over the New York Knicks. The Wizards enjoyed a 16 point lead early in the second quarter, building on their best offensive quarter of the season - scoring 32 points over the first twelve minutes against the porous New York defense. The Knicks, however, went on a 22-7 run to get right back in the game and cut it to just a one point advantage as the teams went to the locker room.

Nick Young paced the Wizards in their big first quarter with 12 points. He was a perfect two for two from behind the arc as New York's backcourt had no answers on the defensive end. Much like his team, he slowed down a bit in the second quarter and finished the half 14 points. Washington was plagued by turnovers at the end of the half, committing three in a row on their final possessions as the Knicks finished off their run.

Carmelo Anthony led all scorers with 21 points on a hefty 16 first half attempts from the floor. New York has been cold from outside, missing all of their attempts from downtown thus far as they worked their way back from that miserable first quarter.

Washington will need the final half to go more the way of the first quarter if they want to pull out their first win of the season on Friday.

For more on the Wizards, please visit Bullets Forever, SB Nation's Wizards blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit SB Nation New York and Posting and Toasting, SB Nation's Knicks blog.

The Washington Wizards continue their search for their first win of the season Friday night against the New York Knicks. Neither team has fared well in 2011/12, with New York's 2-4 start coming as a disappointment, given its high-profile addition of defensive stalwart center Tyson Chandler during the offseason. Plus, it still boasts Carmelo Anthony, the league's No. 2 scorer, putting up 27.8 points per game on 45.6 percent shooting.

Washington's last victory against the Knicks came on Jan. 30, 2010, behind 25 points form Mike Miller and a 21-point, 23-rebound outing from Antawn Jamison. Of the seventeen players to see the court in that game, only three are still with their respective teams: the Wizards still have Nick Young and Andray Blatche, while the Knicks still have Jared Jeffries.

Here are more details on Friday's game between Washington and New York:

Game Date/Time: Wednesday, January 4; 7:00pm ET

Location: Amway Center, Orlando, FL

TV Schedule
Wizards: Comcast SportsNet
Knicks: MSG

Radio Schedule
Wizards: The Fan 106.7 FM
Knicks: ESPN Radio 1050 AM

For more on the Wizards, please visit Bullets Forever, SB Nation's Wizards blog. For the perspective from the other side, please visit SB Nation New York and Posting and Toasting, SB Nation's Knicks blog.