NEW YORK _ For six-plus seasons, Carmelo Anthony called Madison Square Garden home. In that time, he became a beloved New York Knick, a player who gladly embraced the spotlight, the big stage and the challenge of playing here. As stars in recent years shy away from it, the appreciation Knicks fans have for Anthony only seems to grow.
So it was no surprise that Anthony, now a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, received a big ovation from the Garden crowd in his latest return to his former home.
And Anthony responded by putting on a show, albeit in a losing effort.
The Knicks extended their winning streak to three games by blowing out the Blazers, 117-93, on Wednesday.
Anthony finished with a season-high 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting, including 3-of-5 from the perimeter.
Mitchell Robinson had a stellar game for the Knicks, scoring 22 points and throwing down several highlight-reel dunks. He was 11-of-11 from the field and also grabbed eight rebounds.
The Knicks were routed by the Blazers in Portland in early December, but earned revenge on this night.
Damian Lillard, who had eight three-pointers in their first meeting, was just 1-of-8 from the perimeter on Wednesday and finished with 11 points.
Portland shot just 38.7% from the field and were 10-of-32 from three-point range.
Reggie Bullock was available for the Knicks for the first time this season after he missed the start of the season rehabbing from back surgery he had over the summer. Bullock, one of the team's free agent signings, is a veteran shooter who, the Knicks hope, can impact the offense.
Interim head coach Mike Miller likes what he can add on both ends of the floor.
"I think defensively with his length, he's a high basketball IQ guy, he's athletic enough he can cover multiple positions," Miller said before the game. "So I think defensively he really is going to be able to help us. And then offensively he's been a shot-maker. He's been a guy that stretches the floor."
Bullock showed how much he can help on Wednesday, scoring 11 points off the bench and draining three of his five three-point attempts.
Anthony, who signed with the Blazers in November, entered Wednesday averaging 15.7 points and 6.2 rebounds while shooting 40.7% from the field.
He may not be the player he used to be, but he's still productive.
"He is so crafty in how he scores the ball," Miller said before the game. "It's not just the shooting, the isolations. It's all the things he can do. He's a high very IQ player. Playing with other guys who can score he's dangerous out there with what he can do."
This wasn't the first time Anthony had returned to the Garden since the Knicks traded him away before the start of the 2017-18 season. He first came back as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder in December of 2017. He scored 12 points on 5-of-18 shooting that game.
Anthony then returned last season as a spectator to see his friend and former Miami Heat start Dwyane Wade play his final game at MSG.
Anthony scored 15 points in the first half on Wednesday. He drained a three-pointer in the closing minute to tie the game at 48, but Randle promptly drained one on the other end to give the Knicks a three-point lead at the break.
They expanded their lead to double digits in the second half, although Anthony did everything he could to keep the Blazers in the game, reaching a season-high 26 points in the third quarter.
Anthony received plenty of cheers in his return to the Garden.
He just couldn't get the win.
