Gallinari, Knicks Can't Deliver Win on Christmas
Danilo Gallinari's game has evolved quickly for the Knicks.
Once known primarily as simply a deep-ball threat, Gallinari posted big numbers for the Knicks in their Christmas Day matinee vs. the Heat despite struggling from downtown. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to deliver a win as New York fell to Miami 93-87 at The Garden.
The league leader in three-pointers made and attempted, Gallinari struggled from behind the arc, going just 3-for-11.
“I don’t know where it was I think I lost it," he said. "Hopefully next game it will be better. We’re trying to improve on them, watching them in the video room with the coaches. If you ask me if my shot is going in right after I shoot it, I tell you it’s going in. I always say sometimes it goes in sometimes it goes out, you just have to keep shooting and keep concentrated on all parts of the game.”
In a sign of maturity and growth, the sophomore sensation still lit up the Heat with a mixture of drives, post-up moves and jumpers, including a rim-rattling second-quarter dunk that brought The Garden crowd to its feet. He ended the game with a team-high 26 points along with eight boards and three dimes while setting a career-high with 43 minutes played.
"I just thought he missed his shots," said Head Coach Mike D'Antoni. "There have been a couple of games where he just hasn't hit them, but you see his mentality of trying to get a little bit of a better shot and get going. He got to the foul line a couple times, and those are games that impress me more than just when he comes out and makes everything, because we know he can do that. But he grinded out 26 points not really playing that well. His defense is good and his rebounding. He keeps getting better."
Sporting custom made red and green sneakers for Christmas, Gallinari led the Knicks in scoring for the sixth time this season. It was also his sixth 20-point performance of the season. Combined with his usually lethal perimeter game, the 21-year old Gallinari is quickly becoming a handful for the opposition.
"Gallinari looks like a completely different player now then when he did game one," said an impressed Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. "(He's) certainly much improved from last year.”
The Knicks complete their five-game homestand this Sunday vs. the San Antonio Spurs.
Game Notes: David Lee posted his fourth consecutive double-double with 19 points and 16 boards ...The Knicks wore their green jerseys while the Heat dressed in red to commemorate Christmas ... New York limited an opponent to under 100 points for the ninth consecutive game for the first time since 2005 (Nov. 2-20) ... Jared Jeffries recorded two blocked shots. He posted at least two blocked shots in six of last eight games ... Former Knick Quentin Richardson recorded 8 points, one rebound and one assist in his first game back at The Garden since being traded over the summer ...This is the Knicks fifth loss by six or less points this season.
