Notebook: Knicks Break Slump, Melo + D.Rose Get Booed + A.I.’s Influence
Knicks Snap Streak
Just one night after giving up a ten point lead and losing on a buzzer-beater to the 76ers, the Knicks beat a depleted Chicago Bulls team, playing without Jimmy Butler and Nikola Mirotic, for just their second win in eleven games.
The Knicks two former Bulls, Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah, both had great games to help steer New York to a 104-89 win.
“I haven’t been in situations like this too many times in my career, but I’ve definitely been in situations where there’s been adversity and I think that today a lot of guys showed what they were made of,” Noah said.
D. Rose and Melo Hear Boos
Thursday’s game was Derrick Rose’s first game back at Madison Square Garden since his no-show on Monday. During the player introductions loud boos were heard in among some cheers as well. Given there was a large contingent of Chicago fans in the crowd it’s hard to pinpoint who exactly was doing the booing, but after the game.
“I’m used to it and if they did boo me tonight it’s no hard feelings,” Rose said. “I know this is sports and I know they’re very passionate about their sports and like I said, I said sorry to my team, I apologized and that was something that will never happen again.”
Also hearing some boos from the home crowd was Carmelo Anthony when he airballed a long three-pointer over Chicago Bulls center Robin Lopez.
The triangle at work 🔥 pic.twitter.com/wArkenCYF6
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 13, 2017
Allen Iverson Shows “Hood Love”
Even though he got booed by sections of the MSG crowd, there was still some love for Derrick Rose from 76ers legend Allen Iverson who was seated baseline next to Carmelo Anthony’s wife Lala.
After the game, Rose, who met Iverson for the first time, told reporters that not many words were exchanged between the two because what’s understood doesn’t need explanation.
“That is my first time ever meeting him like that. He is an icon,” Rose said. “He is somebody that I looked up to ever since I was younger. He changed the game on and off the court.”
“That’s hood love,” he added. “… You don’t got to say much.”
Feature image via: Frank Franklin II / AP
Bottom image via: @nyknicks