NEW YORK _ It was a fitting backdrop for Carmelo Anthony as he rose near the foul line for the decisive shot late in the fourth quarter Sunday evening. No defender was near him, but lined up in his line of sight was a long row of Knicks alumni.
There were some stars like Larry Johnson and Bernard King, the return of an exiled scorer in Latrell Sprewell and just about every other player who'd ever suited up and could get to Madison Square Garden in time to serve as a distracting prop to the troubles mounting around the team.
Anthony hit the shot, securing a win and started up the other way, staring into the crowd at fans who had been booing him early _ a subtle gesture compared to Sprewell's histrionics that had gotten him banished for 13 years. The shot secured a 94-90 win over the Spurs, but Anthony didn't want to think any deeper into it than that.
He didn't want to think that he could be on that row of former Knicks someday. And he certainly didn't want to think that reunions could come soon. This was the last home game for the Knicks before the Feb. 23 trade deadline and Anthony has been teetering on the edge of a farewell, undecided about whether he will waive his no-trade clause and free Knicks' president Phil Jackson to shove him outside the door.
"Oh come on, man," Anthony said laughing. "Don't start that. Don't start that."
He heard the cheers for the former players introduced Sunday _ and watched the beloved Knick Charles Oakley dragged out by security guards Wednesday, so when he was asked about whether he thought about the reception he players got, he quickly pointed out, "Which reception thought?"
Anthony, who passed Charles Oakley for 25th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list with his 25 points Sunday, has certainly provided solid play in his six seasons in New York. But after making the playoffs the first three years he has seen the team turn into an embarrassment.
"I don't think about that," he said about his return some day. "I live in the moment. I don't think about that."
For now, Anthony has one more game ahead of the deadline in Oklahoma City on Wednesday and he has been looking forward to a physical and mental break after that with no spot in the All-Star Game for the first time in eight years. But the Cavaliers announced Sunday that Kevin Love has a sore left knee injury and will sit out Tuesday's game and could miss the All-Star Game. That could open the door for Anthony.
"I got plans," Anthony said. "I would love to take this break and just utilize this break and my body and my mind and just get away from everything. I could utilize this break. If they call me I'd consider it. But I would love to utilize this break."
