It's often said that big time players perform in big time situations. Enter Friday night in storm-ravaged New York City, N.Y.
In an emotional season and home opener in front of a revved-up New York City crowd at Madison Square Garden aching for a distraction from the carnage of Hurricane Sandy, Carmelo Anthony made the Garden his stage and the New York Knicks (1-0) delivered a stunning blowout victory over the defending champion Miami Heat (1-1) Friday night, 104-84.
Just days after Hurricane Sandy-which has left 45 people dead in New York City, left thousands without power and caused billions in property damage-cancelled their season opener against the Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the show did go on in Manhattan, and Carmelo Anthony delivered a 30- point, 10-rebound, two-steal show that propelled the Knicks.
Prior to the game, the players paid respect to the victims of the superstorm in a heartfelt pre-game tribute to a soldout crowd at the Garden.
Anthony addressed the sellout crowd before the game, thanking them for "coming out in hard times and supporting" the club, the New York Daily News reported.
"We know a lot of lives and a lot of families have been deeply impacted by the tragedy of Hurricane Sandy," he said during the address. "This is the most important time for the city of New York to come together as one and help rebuild the city."
From there, Anthony went from 'somber' to 'sizzling,' torching the Heat for 16 first-quarter points-nearly matching the Heat's entire 17-point first quarter-capping it with a buzzer-beating three-pointer that put the Knicks firmly in the driver's seat and they never looked back.
And they did it without injured starting power forward Amar'e Stoudemire, out for six to eight weeks after having knee surgery.
Also making his Knick return to the Garden, Raymond Felton, formerly of the Portland Trail Blazers, had a solid night in the starting point guard spot, putting up 14 points with 9 assists and keeping the Knicks offense looking like a well-oiled machine against a fully-loaded Heat squad that eliminated them from the first round of the playoffs last May.
New Knicks point guard Jason Kidd, making his Knick regular season debut, also had a good performance with 12 points and 3 assists, while sharpshooter Steve Novak-who led the league in three-point percentage last season-was firing on all cylinders, hitting 5-of-8 from downtown to scorch Miami for 17 points off the bench.
James, who has had some memorable performances in New York, had a solid, but rather quiet 23 points to lead the Heat, while star shooting guard Dwayne Wade put in 15 for Miami. Chris Bosh scored 12 while reserve power forward Rashard Lewis posted 15 points.
As the game wound down with the Knicks dominating the defending world champions, the Garden crowd even chanted "Ra-sheed Wall-ace!," calling for the veteran power forward and newest Knick-who hadn't played in two seasons-to come off the bench. He provided the exclamation point on the stunning demolition of Miami moments later with a three-pointer to help the Knicks close out their opening night win.
"I think this win meant a lot for us, for the city, fans, you know, just everybody in New York," Felton told ESPN after the game. "This was a big win, so I'm happy we got it."
Even normally silent owner James Dolan noted the symbolic importance of the game to a small group of reporters before the game.
"It's a big game," Dolan reportedly said, according to the Daily News. "It's good for New York. A lot of people told me they were either coming or watching on TV. It will give people something to cheer about and take their minds off of things for a few hours."
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