NBA on Sling TV: Knicks at Pistons, Lakers at Pelicans
Knicks vs. Pistons (7pm ET Thursday, TNT)
Carmelo Anthony scored 16 points to go along with 14 rebounds Tuesday night, but the Knicks still fell to the Boston Celtics 97-89, as Boston’s deeper bench and fresher legs were too much for New York. The loss was the Knicks’ sixth in their last seven games, and brought their record to 23-28, 11th-best in the East. Carmelo’s scored just 16.8 with 8.8 rebounds during the current skid, and Kristaps Porzingis has been even less effective, scoring 12 a game with 5.8 rebounds, with both men making just 35% of their shots. The Knicks looked like they had a playoff run in them, but the 8th seed is going to keep drifting out of sight if those two can’t find their shots.
Led by 6-11 All Star Andre Drummond, the Pistons are 26-24 and proud owners of the 8th seed in the East following Wednesday’s loss to the Celtics (yes, both teams are coming off losses to the Celtics – weird, right?). Drummond’s been a beast this season, posting 17.3 points and 15.1 rebounds a game (the only one in the league top 15-15), but his 16-13 wasn’t enough, as the Pistons scored just 36 in the first half against Boston, putting themselves in a hole that proved too deep. Adding injury to insult, Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope slipped on a wet spot in the first half, incurring a groin strain that will force him to miss at least tonight’s game.
Watch the New York Knicks vs. the Detroit Pistons at 7pm ET Thursday on TNT.
Lakers vs. Pelicans (9:30pm ET Thursday, TNT)
Kobe Bryant showed flashes of the Kobe of old on Tuesday, scoring 38 points, including the Lakers’ last 8, leading the team to a 119-115 victory of the Timberwolves. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Lakers, and lifted their record to 10-41, second-worst in the league, better only than the 76ers, with whom they’re tied for worst point differential at -10.1. To understand just how bad the Lakers’ offense is, consider that they rank dead last in 2-point field goal percentage, as well as 3-point field goal percentage, and they’re 24th in shots made while being 3rd in shots taken.
The Pelicans came into the season with high hopes, coming off a 45-win season that saw them make the playoffs for the first time in four years, and Anthony Davis was going to be a year older/stronger/better. Oh well… The Pelicans fell to the Spurs Wednesday, and are now 18-30 and in 12th place in the West. Davis had a beast of a game, scoring 28 points, with 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals and 4 blocks, but it was no match for the two-headed monster that is Kawhi Leonard and LaMarcus Aldridge, who combined for 62 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
Watch the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the New Orleans Pelicans at 9:30pm ET Thursday on TNT.
All stats courtesy ESPN and Basketball Reference.