Notebook: Knicks Finally Get Their Big 3 Going

Knicks’ Triumvirate Clicked

Knicks fans finally got a good glimpse of what their three biggest names could do on-court when they’re all clicking together. Carmelo Anthony led the way. He scored 35 points, including 11 in the fourth term, while hitting 13 of his 25 shots. Derrick Rose scored 24 points, also with 11 in the fourth, in his first game back after missing two because of a back injury and Kristaps Porzingis scored 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter also as the Knicks clawed back from a 15-point deficit to beat the Pacers at Madison Square Garden.

“Every night’s not going to be like that,” Rose said. “But when it is, we’re hard to beat.”

“We’re going to need that to take the next step,’’ Anthony said. “That fourth quarter when I got out of the game, KP and Derrick stepped up and took over the game. We’re a dangerous team when we can get guys going like that from different areas. It felt good to have [Derrick] back. We play differently.’’

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Knicks, and after the game Porzingis said it was a learning curve for the still developing squad.

“Everybody was feeling good but everybody forgot about the little details that took us there,” he said. “That’s what’s important. The last three games kind of put our feet on the ground again. …This game is the first step back on the right track. But there’s a lot to learn.

“We can still grow. We have to see the bigger picture and keep growing as a team.”

Melo Doesn’t Want Players Voting For All-Star

The NBA announced major changes to the All-Star voting this week, specifically that fans will now count for 50 percent of the vote instead of 100, while all current players and a panel of basketball media will each account for 25 percent.

Players are allowed to vote for themselves and/or a teammate, and Melo isn’t too pleased with the format.

“Me personally, I’d rather leave it up to the fans. Let the fans deal with it,” he said. “I don’t think players should vote for other players to get in there. It’s a fan thing. It’s part of fan engagement.”

Player voting is unlikely to affect guys like Melo, who has been voted in eight straight seasons, or players like current MVP favorite, Russell Westbrook, who will likely get enough votes from the 50 percent of fans to still make the starting five of their respective conferences. Players on the fringe of selection – think Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Boston’s Isaiah Thomas – could be the ones to either miss out, or make a roster based off player voting.

Inconsistent Pacers

Paul George lamented the Pacers’ inconsistent season thus far. In the franchise’s 50-year history, the Pacers had never gone through 30 games without having either producing a three-game winning streak or enduring a three-game losing streak. Until Tuesday’s game at the Garden, unfortunately.

“It’s frustrating,” George said post-game. “I don’t even know what to say about it. We just can’t get the job done. We’re an inconsistent team. That’s all it is.”

Feature image via: AP