NY Knicks' Carmelo Anthony tries to go after Celtics' Kevin Garnett on team bus after game, but MSG security intervenes
CELTICS 102, NY KNICKS 96
Carmelo Anthony couldn’t beat Kevin Garnett and the Boston Celtics on the court and instead was intent on settling a score in the bowels of Madison Square Garden.
Anthony, according to eyewitnesses interviewed by the Daily News, waited for Garnett near the Celtics bus following Boston’s emotionally charged 102-96 victory on Monday night.
A potentially volatile scene was defused by Garden security personnel, five New York City police officers and even Knicks coach Mike Woodson, who rushed to the scene unfolding near the Garden ramp and ordered Anthony to leave peacefully.
A source on the scene claimed that Garnett seemed somewhat surprised and confused by Anthony’s presence and acted as a peacemaker as Celtics security ushered the All-Star forward onto the bus.
The NBA is certain to investigate the incident, which could result in a suspension and/or fine for both players. But Anthony could be in more trouble since, according to the MSG Network, the All-Star forward initially waited for Garnett outside the Celtics’ locker room immediately after the game ended.
Players and coaches from both sides refused to comment on the scene after the game. Woodson refused to comment before a reporter even finished asking the question. Celtics coach Doc Rivers offered some insight by shrewdly telling reporters, “If it were a playoff I’d tell on him, but since it’s not I’m just going to be quiet.”
Rivers’ answer was a subtle dig at the NBA for suspending point guard Rajon Rondo for one game after the All-Star point guard was cited for making contact with a referee in Saturday’s win at Atlanta.
Anthony was unavailable for comment after the loss. Garnett spoke with reporters before exiting the locker room and encountering Anthony at the bottom of the ramp.
“Yeah, it got intense in the end,” Garnett said of a game that included himself and Anthony each being assessed a double technical for taunting each other. “We just tried to put a hand in (Anthony’s) face. You know, Melo is such a good scorer. We tried to slow him down.”
The Knicks (23-11) hold a six-game lead over the Celtics (17-17) but they became unglued in losing the first of four meetings against their bitter rivals. Anthony had a nightmarish game, shooting 6-for-26, including 2-for-10 in the fourth quarter. He finished with 20 points and five fouls in 37 minutes.
Anthony and Garnett battled in the post on several possessions in the fourth quarter and Anthony put himself in danger of being ejected when he slapped down on the ball after he was called for fouling Garnett. Rivers was clearly upset that Anthony avoided expulsion.
“Melo’s a very fiery guy, believe it or not,” J.R. Smith said. “He doesn’t like to lose and he doesn’t like when people come up in his face. So it is what it is.”
Smith led the Knicks with 24 points and played the last 69 seconds with a deep cut over his right eye after being inadvertently head-butted by Avery Bradley. The cut required 11 stitches to close.
The Knicks blew a 10-point second-half lead to a Boston team that won its third straight. Paul Pierce, a renowned Knicks killer, scored 23 points while Bradley, Rondo’s replacement, scored 13 points and Jeff Green added 16. Amar’e Stoudemire had his best game, scoring 13 points and giving the Knicks quality minutes in the fourth quarter. Tyson Chandler added 13 points and 17 rebounds.
Garnett, the agitator and warrior all rolled into one, had 19 points and 10 rebounds and hit two free throws late to ice the win. Garnett is always active with his hands and mouth and he did just enough to get under Anthony’s skin. In fact, when the buzzer sounded, Anthony turned to the tunnel near the Knicks’ bench and exited rather than cross paths with the Celtics.
Part of the Garden “transformation” includes the home and visiting benches being positioned opposite the tunnels both teams exit, which is a recipe for disaster. When Anthony made the turn toward the Celtics’ tunnel, two Knicks security guards were quick to follow him.
“I’m going to defend Melo and our players and this team,” Woodson said. “In the heat of the battle you’ve got to hang in there and you’ve got to keep playing. We can’t let the officials affect how we play. It was heated both ways. I thought they were a little bit out of control and reaching, too. They made the plays they needed to make to secure the win.”
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