Cavaliers outhustle sloppy Knicks

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

After he dressed following another disturbing loss, Carmelo Anthony was asked about his injured right thumb, the All-Star’s newest ailment.

“It’s messed up,” he said.

So are the Knicks.

One night after finally getting its offense to flow as designed, New York made 23 turnovers and never mounted a serious comeback in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, falling 91-81 to the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Knicks’ seventh loss in eight games.

Anderson Varejao had 16 rebounds, a powerful dunk down the stretch and outhustled Anthony and Amare Stoudemire to help the Cavs end a four-game losing streak.

Antawn Jamison added 15 points for the Cavs, who won their ninth straight at home over New York. The Knicks haven’t won in Cleveland since 2006.

As the game was slipping away in the closing minutes, Anthony, blocked from a clear path to the basket by several Cavaliers, threw a pass to the wing for Stoudemire.

But the ball went right through Stoudemire’s legs and out of bounds, another costly error for the Knicks who may be the NBA’s most disappointing team this season.

“We’ve got to find a way to score,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “We’re not scoring the basketball.”

Stoudemire had 19 points and 14 rebounds for the sloppy Knicks, who had six turnovers and just 17 points in the fourth quarter.

Anthony scored 15 points — 14 more than he had in a win Tuesday night over Charlotte — but he had another poor shooting night, going 5 of 14.

New York scored just 36 points in the second half and failed to get closer than six points in the fourth.

Anthony can’t pinpoint the Knicks’ problems.

“I can’t really put my finger on it right now,” he said. “I can’t figure it out. Last night, guys got going early and tonight we were waiting for it to come to us rather than go get it. We just couldn’t figure it out.”

Anthony hurt his thumb against the Bobcats, another hindrance to go along with a sprained left wrist and sprained right ankle.

He didn’t use his injuries as an excuse, but the damage is preventing Anthony to play his game.

“There’s no frustration,” he said. “I’m thinking about my body. There’s a lot going through my mind right now and I’m trying to figure it out. I’ll get it figured out. It’s a tough situation right now due to the circumstances, but I’ll get it figured out. I’ll tell you that.”

The Cavs led by five entering the fourth and stretched it when reserve Alonzo Gee made a steal and went in for a windmill dunk to put Cleveland ahead 75-66.

At that point, the Knicks seemed to pack it in.