NEW YORK — Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington hopes the Knicks turn things around because losers “suffer” the wrath of the media and fans in the Big Apple.
After scoring 22 of his 24 points in the second half of Saturday night’s 119-114 double-OT victory over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, Harrington was asked what was wrong with his former team, losers of six straight.
“They don’t pay me to make those assumptions or figure those things out,” said Harrington, a former Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick star. “I hope it works out for them, though, because Melo is like a brother to me.
“And I hate to see anybody suffer, especially in New York you can suffer if you don’t win, you know what I’m saying. So I hope they turn it around.”
Anthony visited Harrington, his former Nuggets teammate, in the Denver training room before the game.
” It wasn’t no tears,” Anthony said. “Just stuff that needed to be said.”
After a game in which he shot 10-for-30 for 25 points, Anthony accepted much of the blame for the team’s recent struggles.
“Maybe I should take the blame for the games we’re losing,’’ said Anthony, shooting 35 percent over his last seven games, Saturday night at his locker. “Coach does run the offense through me. I’ll take the blame. It’s obvious I’m beat up. I don’t want to use that as any excuse. Maybe it’s time to revaluate everything, reevaluate my body, sit with the trainers, see what’s going on.’’
The New York Post reported Monday that Anthony wants to have a heart-to-heart with teammate Amar’e Stoudemire, who was absent from the offense after the third quater Saturday.
“We as a team need to do a better job getting Amar’e the ball,’’ Anthony said. “I have the ball in my hands. Maybe it’s on me. Maybe I have to give him the ball a little more, help him out with that. We’ll talk probably [today] and try to figure it out together. If I’m doing too much, I want him to tell me. I want the guys on the team to tell me if I’m doing too much.’’
Stoudemire praised the Nuggets — and former teammate Danilo Gallinari, who went for a career-high 37 points — for their team play, drawing a contrast to the Knicks, who have relied heavily on Anthony down the stretch of games.
“They’re playing great team basketball,’’ Stoudemire said. “It’s hard to guard those guys when they move the ball like they do.’’
