Notebook: The Knicks Are Rollin’

Melo’s Game-Winner

For all the talk from fans, media members and alike that the New York Knicks’ offense should now run primarily through the young phenom Kristaps Porzingis, Carmelo Anthony still remains the team’s best closer for now.

Melo notched 35 points, 14 rebounds and five assists in the overtime win over the Hornets, including the game-winning shot. After the game he said he wanted to make amends for missing a potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation.

“I wanted that shot. I wanted that moment, to be honest with you,” he said. “I felt like I had an opportunity to close it in regulation and in overtime I did want that situation.”

Don’t Try To Climb Mt. Zingis

The Unicorn couldn’t replicate his 31-point offensive performance from the Blazers game four days ago, but the Kristaps Porzingis did come up with two huge defensive plays that ignited the Garden crowd.

The first, a block on Cody Zeller after the Hornets sparked a fastbreak from a long Porzingis missed three late in the fourth, and the second, a block on Frank Kaminsky halfway through the overtime period.

Porzingis said the noise level in the Garden after those blocks was like nothing he’s ever heard before.

“Unbelievable. Oh, my God,” he said. “I think it was one of the loudest games I’ve ever been in – they’re [MSG crowd] are usually loud, but today they were really into it. It was unbelievable. I was getting goosebumps after every play.”

Hornacek Praises His Two Stars

On Melo’s game-winner: “You can run all of the plays you want … but Melo has the experience, the size to hold guys off. He makes big shots; that’s a luxury to have. His turnaround jumper is …. you saw it.”

On Porzingis’ play: “He had an off-night shooting the ball. Sometimes you win games with defense. You don’t always have to do it on the offensive end. You can win games on the defensive [end].”