New York Knicks see off the Detroit Pistons in London

The New York Knicks gunned down the Detroit Pistons last night in London, in the third regular season game to be held in the British capital. A Carmelo Anthony led Knicks run out comfortable victors over a Pistons team that would have been hoping to catch New York off guard away from Madison Square Garden.

However, there was to be no shock as United States Olympic hero Anthony returned to the venue where he helped his country win the Basketball gold medal. Once again hoop fever had gripped the O2 in London, and the Knicks took home the spoils courtesy of a 102-87 win.

Anthony managed to be the star of the show, as the small forward helped himself to 25 points, while teammates Amar’e Stoudemire and J.R. Smith put 16 and 17 points on the scoreboard respectively. However, the night belonged to “Melo” who has now managed to score 20 or more points in 25 straight games.

“He got off to such a hot start, and then he just kind of played as the game came to him,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. “He was getting double-teamed and I thought he did a great job in sacrificing the basketball, which he has to do.”

The Pistons were playing as the home team at the O2, and knew that the Knicks normally play better in front of their home fans, although the London crowd was clearly in the favour of New York. And buoyed by this partisan support the Knicks leapt out of the blocks thanks to a Tyson Chandler dunk, a three pointer from veteran Jason Kidd, and two field goals from Anthony.

By the end of this explosive start the Knicks had recorded 16 unanswered points and were in control for the remainder of the game. Detroit rallied in the third with 10 straight points of their own, while 22-points from Will Bynum helped keep them in the game, but while the celebrities and good folk of London lapped it up, the Knicks played out a comfortable win.