Game 46 | Cavs @ Knicks | Thursday, January 30th, 2014 | 8:00 PM ET

[caf]

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Following a bad beginning to their eight-game homestand, the New York Knicks have recovered thanks greatly to one basic thing -- hitting more shots.

And not just by Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks lost three straight home games before winning the last three behind a rejuvenated attack led by Anthony, and if that hot shooting continues, they might breeze past a Cleveland Cavaliers team having major problems offensively.

"We are doing a great job as a team figuring it out," Anthony said after Tuesday's 114-88 win over Boston.

New York (18-27) had not hit 10 3-pointers in 12 consecutive games before doing so in each of the last four, making 50 in 106 attempts. That's a 47.2 percent clip compared to 33.5 in the previous 10 contests.

The Knicks have shot 52.3 percent from the field during their three-game win streak, scoring at least 110 points each time after not reaching that mark in 19 straight. They had averaged 93.6 points during a five-game skid, including blowouts by the Clippers and Brooklyn to open the homestand before a loss to last-place Philadelphia.

"When you make shots it makes it easier," said Anthony, who had 24 points Tuesday. "Guys are moving the ball and guys are making shots. Everyone feels like they are having fun again."

Anthony played 28 minutes and had 15 field-goal attempts -- personal lows this month -- after combining for 66 shots and 97 points in the previous two games.

J.R. Smith is 8 for 13 from 3-point range during the win streak after going 9 for 25 during the five-game skid. Fellow reserve Tim Hardaway Jr. has scored in double figures in three straight, shooting 53.3 percent with eight 3-pointers.

"Our pace has really picked up. We are back to playing small ball again," coach Mike Woodson said. "Guys are shooting 3s and feeling good about them. It is good to see.

"... I think guys are more committed now. There is a sense of urgency."

Counterpart Mike Brown is looking for his Cavaliers to show the same. They're coming off a 1-4 homestand which ended with fans booing them in a 100-89 loss to New Orleans on Tuesday.

Cleveland (16-29) shot 40.2 percent and averaged 91.2 points in those five games after a 4-2 stretch during which it scored more than 110 four times.

"Our competitive spirit is non-existent," Brown said. "Maybe I need to shake some things up. ... What we're doing out there is unacceptable."

Maybe a three-game trip will help. Most recently, the Cavs had a 3-2 road swing Jan. 10-17. In Cleveland, they've lost eight of 11.

Kyrie Irving had at least 23 points in four games during the homestand, but they were all losses.

"As a team, we go through stretches where it's ups and downs, that's just part of the game," Irving said.

His 37 points highlighted a 109-94 home win over the Knicks on Dec. 10. Irving has averaged 32.8 in the last four meetings but hasn't won at Madison Square Garden, and the Cavs have lost four straight there.

Top overall pick Anthony Bennett had his best performance Tuesday with 15 points and eight rebounds in 31-plus minutes. He had played in only two of the previous seven games.

Bennett may again see increased playing time if Anderson Varejao (knee) can't return. Varejao, averaging a team-high 10.3 rebounds, hadn't missed a game after playing just 81 over the previous three seasons.

The Knicks will be missing Amare Stoudemire (ankle) and Andrea Bargnani (elbow), and could be without Iman Shumpert (shoulder).​

http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/preview?gameId=400489560​

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[Fuggles]

I don't care about this team's struggles. I don't care about X player not getting Y minutes.

I just love it when the Cavs take a dump on the Knicks.

 

[PepsiRacer4]

Don't care. As long as the Cavs willy slap the Knicks on national TV I'll be stoked. Screw the Knicks.

 

[Los216]

Kyrie is gonna score 40+

Bennett will have a solid game

 

[Marcus]

Knicks 134, Cavs -13

Seriously though, I have no idea about this one. It's a road game and the Knicks are playing better of late, so probably a loss.

 

[MoGottiFor3]

Game's on TNT, please just don't make the national media clown us.

 

[Ohio]

30 point L

 

[theSTEREO.]

Nervous about Bennett, but if he shows up in this game, I have no more worries.

The Knicks may suck, but the Garden is one of the most intimidating arenas in the league.

 

[ice cream man]

We always handle the Knicks well. But this time I don't think so. Bargnani out is an advantage for them, not us. Chandler and back, and they're team has more life. That being said we're gonna have to share the ball. And we can't let Shumpert or Felton go off, or else we'll have no chance. Looking forward to more Bennett.

 

[AuxiliaryPie]

If bennett plays as much as last game, hes gonna be guarding Melo a little bit.. cant wait to see what he can do

 

[Pyro]

The Knicks may suck, but the Garden is one of the most intimidating arenas in the league.

The Boston Garden maybe.

 

[Nathan S]

It's either a must win or a must lose. I forget which one...

 

[pinoycavsfan]

just need to see bennett have at least a 20min appearance on the court without making a fool of himself... if bennett shows a good outing/effort, win or lose, it's fine by me...

 

[JFT]

Someone swiped ACs banner apparently, and other interesting comments below.


Cavs GM: 'We're all accountable'
Updated: January 29, 2014, 9:13 PM ET
ESPN.com news services


INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers' season is sliding toward serious danger, if it's not there already.

General manager Chris Grant just knows it needs to stop. Now.

Making a rare midseason appearance before the media to address some of Cleveland's most pressing issues, Grant said he's troubled by the team's will in recent games.

"The lack of effort is just not acceptable," Grant said following Wednesday's practice. "It's not who we are and who we want to be. It's got to be addressed head on. There's no excuse for that, but we've seen our guys compete and execute consistently and that's really what we've got to do a better job of."

Cleveland completed a 1-4 homestand with a 100-89 loss to New Orleans on Tuesday night. Following the poor performance, which came after an even worse one against Phoenix, Cavs coach Mike Brown questioned his team's motivation.

"Our competitive spirit is non-existent," said Brown, whose second stint with Cleveland has been a disappointment through 45 games. "Maybe I need to shake some things up."

Perhaps prompted by Brown's remarks, Grant made himself available to reporters during the season for the first time in more than three years for something other than to comment on a trade.

Grant said there is plenty of blame to be shared for Cleveland's sorry state. The Cavs are just 16-29 and currently out of the playoff race in the weak Eastern Conference.

"We're all accountable for it, including myself," Grant said. "It's frustrating. It's disappointing to our fans. The fans deserve better. That's hard, but we've got a very experienced, creative dynamic group of people who are working on a daily basis to help us become more consistent. We know it's there. Our guys, they're learning, they're growing and we have expectations for them and for ourselves.

"It's disappointing. We feel that every day."

Meanwhile, the mystery of Austin Carr's retired jersey banner continues to linger.

The large No. 34, which was hanging from a walkway high inside Quicken Loans Arena, turned up missing Tuesday night when Cleveland hosted the New Orleans Pelicans. The team said the banner was in place on Monday night for a pro wrestling event. The Cavs are continuing to investigate and plan to install a new one in time for the next home game.

Carr was the first player drafted by the Cavs. He played nine seasons for Cleveland and had his jersey retired in 1981. He currently works as a TV color analyst for the club.

Carr joked, "Maybe I'm coming out of retirement," when he learned his banner was gone. Carr's banner is one of several hanging from the arena's ceiling.

On Sunday, the Cavs scored just six points in the third quarter and blew a 20-point lead before losing to the Suns.

The back-to-back clunkers at home were in stark contrast to the team's play during a recent West Coast trip in which Cleveland went 3-2 and seemed to have found its groove. But the Cavs have fallen back on bad habits and Grant said it's imperative the club gets back to winning quickly.

"We've seen this team play well together and click and it hasn't been consistent and that is the piece that we have to a better job of," Grant said. "You've heard Mike talk about it -- we have execute better, we have to move the ball better and we have to trust each other. You've heard those terms before and we've got to get back to doing that. The group is capable of it."

The Cavs begin a three-game road trip in New York on Thursday. They'll also face Houston and Dallas before coming home.

After Tuesday's loss, All-Star guard Kyrie Irving said he and his teammates believe in Brown, who has struggled trying to get his players to buy into his defensive-minded system.

Although it's not showing in the form of wins, Grant thinks Brown has bonded with his players.

"Mike has done a fantastic job with these guys individually," he said. "He spends an enormous amount of time watching film with guys, teaching, coaching. I believe he has connected with the guys."

One positive Cavs on Tuesday was the performance by rookie Anthony Bennett, the No. 1 overall pick. He scored a season-high 15 points in 31 minutes. Grant has taken some heat for not sending Bennett to the D-League to work on his game, but it seems the team's patience could be paying off.

"I think the priority should be here for him working with our coaches, being on the floor getting those experiences," Grant said. "Last night was great. He performed well and played well and you could tell he was ready for the opportunity."

 

[JFT]

It's either a must win or a must lose. I forget which one...

Really long arms is right...the first time I saw him up close the other night and he has a really long wiiiiiiiiinnnnngggggspan. Great touch on the long ball as well. I hope we keep him and build on it.