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Sports

Knicks hope to have Melo in Christmas showdown with OKC

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

(SportsNetwork.com) - Will Carmelo Anthony be able to go for the New York Knicks Christmas afternoon when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden?

Anthony sprained his left ankle in the third quarter of New York's 103-98 victory in Orlando on Monday night. The Knicks were up 20 points when Anthony hobbled off and his presence for Wednesday afternoon is unknown.

"I don't want to miss that game," he said. "It's Christmas Day at the Garden. I'll be there. Hopefully, I'll be there."

Anthony wasn't the only Knick to go down to injury in Atlanta. Raymond Felton, who returned from a left hamstring injury on Monday, felt a pop in his right groin and left in the fourth quarter.

Anthony was still the Knicks' leading scorer on Monday with 19 points. J.R. Smith came off the bench with 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyson Chandler also registered a double-double with 10 points and 13 boards.

Andrea Bargnani, Felton and Beno Udrih also scored in double figures.

The Knicks are just 4-10 at home this season, which ties them with the Detroit Pistons for second most home losses in the Eastern Conference. Only the Milwaukee Bucks have more setbacks in their own building in the East.

The Oklahoma City Thunder had a nine-game winning streak snapped last time out, so they'll be ready for their Christmas showdown at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

The Thunder hadn't lost since Dec. 4 at Portland until the Toronto Raptors came into Oklahoma City and knocked off the Thunder, 104-98 on Sunday. It was OKC's first home loss of the season.

"They made enough plays down the stretch and we didn't," said Thunder head coach Scott Brooks. "We got a lot of open looks that we just didn't make and we gave them easier looks in the fourth than we did in the third."

Kevin Durant tied the game with 1:39 left, but the Raptors scored the final six points of the contest.

Russell Westbrook had 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, while Durant added 24 points and eight boards for the Thunder, who shot under 37 percent for the game and committed 19 turnovers.

The two All-Stars for OKC were the only two players in double figures.

The Thunder still have a five-game road winning streak to defend. They will visit Charlotte on Friday.

The Knicks have a streak they'd like to see come to an end on Christmas. They are 0-3 this season in afternoon tilts and two of those losses came in true blowout fashion.

The Thunder have won six of the last eight meetings between the two teams. Oklahoma City has taken two of the last three trips to Madison Square Garden.