Carmelo Anthony’s much anticipated return to Madison Square Garden is finally here. The New York Knicks traded Anthony in September to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Doug McDermott, Enes Kanter, and a 2018 second-round pick via the Bulls. Now Anthony will return with Paul George and Russell Westbrook by his side to go head-to-head against the Knicks on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET. NBA TV (live stream via fuboTV) will broadcast the action.
Thunder vs. Knicks 2017 live stream: Time, TV schedule, and how to watch Carmelo Anthony’s return to MSG online
Anthony’s nearly seven-year stint in New York ended with a trade in September. Now, he will return to MSG with Russell Westbrook and Paul George at his side.
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Oklahoma City (14-14) has been inconsistent this season. Indeed, the Thunder have three superstars, which gives them the edge over most teams in the NBA. But Westbrook, Anthony, and George are still learning how to coexist on the court. The good news is that all three players are averaging more than 17 points per game.
The Knicks (15-13), on the other hand, have been better than expected. Players like Kristaps Porzingis, Enes Kanter, and Frank Ntilikina have all managed to play well as a cohesive unit. New York isn’t necessarily a playoff team, but it’s encouraging to see such a young team exceed expectations early.
Still, the Knicks will have a hard time beating this new-look Thunder team. Even though the Thunder are struggling a bit this season, they can still go on offensive barrages quickly. New York will have to force the Thunder to attempt bad shots to try to disrupt their rhythm.
Time, TV channel, and streaming info
Thunder vs. Knicks news:
Paul George made a bittersweet return to Indiana as a Pacers opponent on Wednesday night. In his first game back after forcing a trade to Oklahoma City in the offseason, the Thunder narrowly squeezed out a five-point victory.
George’s visit was full of memorable moments — both off the floor and on — showing his complicated relationship with the fans he spent seven seasons playing in front of.
After forcing the Pacers to trade him or risk losing him for nothing, George was back in Indiana. The Oklahoma City Thunder narrowly squeezed out a five-point victory in George’s first game back, but the emotional trip was full of moments — both off the floor and on.
When the Thunder arrived in Indiana for shootaround, George was expecting to be booed:
Westbrook’s most endearing quality is his unflinching refusal to ever back down. You cannot intimidate him with physical defense, or spook him with cheap tactics.
But there’s a problem: Sheer determination sometimes isn’t enough in basketball. Westbrook hasn’t ever been deterred by the way he wants to play, even when that’s being used against him.
This does not mean Westbrook is a problem for the Thunder — they remain better with him on the court than any other rotation player but Andre Roberson. But Westbrook’s stubbornness on the court can certainly hurt the Thunder, too, even as his dynamism keeps them afloat.
Westbrook’s efficiency is a problem. Even as he averages 23 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, he’s shooting under 40 percent from the field. He’s also shooting career lows on two-pointers outside of 10 feet. Small adjustments could yield better results.
On today’s ‘sode I’m joined by P&T maestro Zach DiLuzio to talk about what the Knicks are doing, SCHEMATICALLY, on offense and defense. We discuss what we like, what we don’t like, and what we think the Knicks should do more of.
ALSO DISCUSSED: what the starting lineup should be while Timmy is out, Michael Beasley’s polarizing play, Black Star and MORE!
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Thunder vs. Knicks prediction:
You have to like what you see from the Knicks. This young team is on the rise, but the Thunder will overwhelm them in this game.
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