NEW YORK (AP) ― Carmelo Anthony was hungry, and not just to end the Knicks’ losing streak.
He wanted something to eat.
Anthony, struggling to keep his energy up while fasting for two weeks, snapped out of a slow start by scoring 18 of his 27 points in the second quarter, and New York ended its season-high, three-game skid with a 100-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets on Sunday.
Anthony missed seven of eight shots and scored two points in the first quarter of the noon start he dislikes, then outscored the Hornets by himself in the second period as the Knicks took the lead for good.
“I’m kind of going through something right now with my own self, trying to find some energy and things like that. But we’ll be fine,” Anthony said. “We bounced back pretty well, I bounced back pretty well, stuck with it and won the game.”
Anthony has scored 20 or more in a career-best 24 straight games, but it’s been a struggle for him lately.
The All-Star forward said he hadn’t had any meats or carbs in 15 days, and that his body just felt “depleted out there.” Perhaps that explains his 6-for-26 shooting night in a loss to Boston on Monday, or the consecutive 1-for-8 first quarters in the last two games.
“I usually do it sometimes just to get some clarity in my life and just spiritual reasons. I’m done now. I can’t do it no more. I surrender,” Anthony said, saying he was headed out to look for a steak after the game.