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Melo Passes Bird on All-Time Scoring List

By Henry Steckel

Jan 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) guarded by Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 20, 2016; New York, NY, USA; New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony (7) guarded by Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum (11) during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports /
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In a 28-point performance, Carmelo Anthony climbed the ladder of the NBA’s top scorers.

Heading into Wednesday night’s game at Madison Square Garden, Carmelo Anthony trailed Larry Bird on the NBA’s all-time scoring list by 26 points, 21,791 to 21,765. The Knicks needed five extra minutes, but they eventually won 118-111, marking present success and highlighting historic success.

With 3:40 left in overtime, both the New York Knicks and the Utah Jazz placed an iron weight on defensive intensity. Instead of providing possession-long rests for their star players, the Knicks and Jazz assigned Carmelo Anthony and Gordon Hayward as each other’s defensive counterpart.

The Knicks looked to Melo with nine seconds left on the shot clock in his personal haven – six feet south of the right elbow with a smidge of unpainted wood separating him laterally from the key. Keeping his back left foot planted ready to manufacture space from his defender, Melo dug his blue left shooter-sleeve into Hawyard’s chest. Leaping back, and rising above Melo tied the game at 101 and penciled his name in next to Larry Bird on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. 10 actual minutes and three basketball minutes later, New York’s star player sealed the game at the charity stripe and erased his name from it’s transient place next to Bird’s and rose among the NBA greats.

Relentless injuries cut Bird’s career short, limiting him to only 12 seasons in which he played at least 10 games. That is simply Boston’s lament. Anthony accomplished what he has in 27 fewer games.

Related Story: NBA: 25 Greatest Scorers of All-Time

Melo now sits 20 points behind Gary Payton and the top 30 all-time scorers. The Knicks are now focusing on overcoming the .500 hump as they look to own a winning record after Friday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers (they have reached .500 four times after conceding their last winning record at 8-7 in November). And with 9 assists against the Jazz, Melo’s multidimensional game is ready for a solid team win.

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