Anthony, Thunder survive triple-OT thriller against Sixers, head to New York for Melo’s return

Carmelo Anthony will return to New York on Saturday off a win, but he and his teammates won’t exactly be fresh.

Anthony and the Oklahoma City Thunder went to triple-overtime Friday night before prevailing over Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers, 119-117, in a thriller in the City of Brotherly Love.

Anthony went for 24 points and 7 rebounds but played 47 minutes in the game.

Russell Westbrook went for a triple-double of 27 points, 17 rebounds and 15 assists in 51 minutes of play. Paul George scored 24 points in 45 minutes and former Knick Raymond Felton scored 14.

Joel Embiid did it all for the Sixers, finishing with 34 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists while also getting into it with Anthony after scoring over him during the second half.

Melo says “dont do that”, Embiid responds by going full Maximus pic.twitter.com/kO3JPfUc68

— Wobsell Perezbrook (@World_Wide_Wob) December 16, 2017

God damn MONSTER game-saving block by Embiid on Westbrook pic.twitter.com/uxTM4MAZSr

— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) December 16, 2017

Ben Simmons had 12 points, 11 assists and 9 rebounds for the Sixers, while J.J. Reddick scored 19 points and Dario Saric added 16.

On Saturday night, Anthony will make his first appearance at the Garden since being traded in September for Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a draft pick.

“I’m excited to go back and play in the Garden,” Anthony told Oklahoma City reporters Wednesday, via Newsday. “Play in front of those fans. Play in front of my family, my friends. But at the end of the day, it’s business to me. But I’d be lying if I said I’m not ecstatic to be going back and playing there.

“I got a different feeling with New York. A different relationship, different bond with the city, with the fans, with the people. It’s a little bit special for me.”

Knicks star Kristaps Porzingis is questionable for the game after suffering a knee injury in Thursday’s win at Brooklyn. The Knicks are also without Tim Hardaway Jr., (stress fracture) the team’s second-leading scorer.

Porzingis said he believes Knicks fans should cheer Anthony upon his return.

“I think he was as professional as he can be in his time here in New York, so I don’t see why they would not receive him with love,” Porzingis said Thursday via ESPN.

Photo:  Getty Images / Matthew Stockman

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