Dwight Howard has bedeviled New York during the Orlando Magic’s six-game win band in the alternation and he’ll be the focal point Monday night at Madison Square Garden.
New York (35-38) is mired in its third six-game accelerate as it tries to abstain its longest one back bottomward eight in a row Feb. 5-23, 2010. The Knicks, however, abide defended for a playoff atom in seventh abode in the Eastern Conference.
The actual affair Monday will be aggravating to apathetic bottomward Howard, who’s averaging 25.8 credibility on 67.1 percent cutting and 14.0 rebounds during Orlando’s six-game win band over New York. He’s been ascendant in two affairs back the Knicks acquired Anthony and Chauncey Billups, demography advantage of abate New York advanced cloister to boilerplate 31.5 credibility and 13.5 rebounds.
That includes Wednesday’s 111-99 achievement at MSG. Howard had 33 credibility and 11 boards, and helped absolute Amare Stoudemire to a season-low 13 credibility on 6-of-20 shooting.
Howard had affluence of accord afterwards for Stoudemire, who went 7-0 at home adjoin Orlando while with Phoenix.
Stoudemire is averaging 19.3 credibility on 41.1 percent cutting during this skid. He fabricated 4 of 13 shots for 14 credibility while Anthony had 36 in Saturday’s 114-106 accident at Charlotte.
It’s bright that the superstars are accepting agitation coexisting, although Knicks drillmaster Mike D’Antoni believes his team’s problems can be solved.
The Knicks will bolt a breach if Jameer Nelson is bare for Orlando (47-26). Nelson didn’t acknowledgment for the additional bisected of Friday’s 95-85 win over New Jersey afterwards spraining his larboard knee.
Nelson is averaging 18.3 credibility on 56.8 percent cutting while allowance Orlando go 3-0 adjoin New York this season.
The Magic accept won bristles beeline all-embracing as they abutting in on home-court advantage in the aboriginal annular of the playoffs. Howard is cutting 69.5 percent and averaging 25.8 credibility and 16.4 boards in this run.Watch Live Online Give it a try >>>
