There was plenty of speculation regarding how Portland Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony would be received in his return to Madison Square Garden to take on the New York Knicks. Fans wasted no time in making it clear what they came to see.
The Garden showered Anthony with cheers when he was introduced for the starting lineups. Knicks fans then followed it up by pleading for his presence on the court.
MSG crowd chanting “We want Melo!” 🗣 pic.twitter.com/GzRyqWSK9n
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 2, 2020
It is encouraging to see that there is still plenty of love for Carmelo Anthony despite his unceremonious departure from the Knicks. The cheers confirm that he will always be acknowledged as one of the most notable players in franchise history.
Fans had the luxury of having their cake and eating it too with Anthony's homecoming. The Blazers forward obliged by putting on a stellar performance with 26 points on an efficient 11-of-17 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the Knicks ultimately emerged victorious with a solid 117-93 victory over the Blazers.
While Anthony would be happy with the cheers he got, he would probably wanted to get the win against his former team. The defeat marked the Blazers' fifth-straight defeat, putting them a game and half behind the San Antonio Spurs for the eighth seed in the West.
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