NEW YORK —There is a different air in the building. Unlike a month ago when fans enjoyed the show like Broadway, the cheers are starting to be replaced with boos and chants of replacements.
The New York Knicks continued to hit a snag and for the fifth straight time, they lost. Quickly as they rose to the standings, quickly they are going down now.
Carmelo Anthony, whose return from injury only worsened their fate and kind of gave fans some idea that there is no good Fung Shui between him and new sensation Jeremy Lin, was booed from introduction.
At some point going into the end of the match, fans even chanted “FreD’Antoni” which referred to their head coach Mike D’Antoni, who looked headed to a playoff stint before the sudden turnaround.
The good feelings created last month by Jeremy Lin’s emergence—along with Lin’s best play—seem long gone now.
“When we get down, it just seems like our whole energy just goes out the door,” Carmelo Anthony said.
Lou Williams scored 12 of his 28 points in a dazzling flurry, Evan Turner had 24 points and 15 rebounds, and thePhiladelphia 76ers handed the Knicks their fifth straight loss with a 106-94 victory Sunday.
Williams tossed in a long jumper to beat the halftime buzzer, then had a dozen points in the final 3:28 of the third quarter, when the 76ers seized control for their third straight victory.
That mentality doesn’t currently exist for the Knicks, with bad body language everywhere and Anthony saying they had “no type of confidence out there.”
“We hit a snag and we seem to whither and for whatever reason we haven’t overcome any kind of obstacles,” coach Mike D’Antoni said.
Andre Iguodala had 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the 76ers, who turned a competitive game into a rout to end a three-game losing streak to the Knicks.
Anthony scored 22 points but didn’t make a field goal over the final three quarters, while Lin shot just 5 of 18 for 14 points with seven assists and six turnovers. Tyson Chandler had eight points and 12 rebounds after missing two games with a strained left hamstring, but he couldn’t solve the Knicks’ defensive woes.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers and the Boston Celtics renewed their storied rivalry with the Lakers taing this one 97-94.
Andrew Bynum, who has openly said “we hate these guys” sealed the win for the Lakers hitting 20 points and collaring 14 rebounds. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 26 and Pau Gasol had a double-double 13-13 for the night.
Rajon Rondo led the Cetics with 24 points and 10 assists while Ray Allen had 17.
