NEW ORLEANS — Coming off his Atlanta ejection, Carmelo Anthony said he appreciated coach Jeff Hornacek’s fierce defense of his scrap with Thabo Sefolosha.
The Knicks coach said in a rant he saw the Atlanta guard’s hands around Anthony’s neck. Replays couldn’t confirm Hornacek’s allegation, but the thought was nice.
“I just know I have somebody who has my back, who has the players’ back,” before the Knicks’ 104-92 loss to the Pelicans on Friday in which he scored a team-high 26 points. “I don’t think he was wrong for saying what he said. He gave his perspective on what happened. I think it’s good when you have kind of the head guy in charge looking out for you. I respect that.”
It is believed Anthony’s issue with interim coach Kurt Rambis is he didn’t have his players’ backs all the time. Anthony lobbied against Rambis remaining as the permanent head coach.
“I think it’s always important to see that coaches have their players’ back,” Anthony said. “I think all players want that. That’s what sports is about, when you can have that camaraderie and that trust in one another from the coaching staff down to the players.”
Anthony was back to the scene of “the crime” Friday morning. Late last season, an 8-year-old boy walked straight onto the court before an inbounds play in the final seconds and hugged the Knicks superstar. The breach caused an arena usher and off-duty police officer to be fired in the aftermath. Anthony, then and now, seemed not to be alarmed.
“It was a special moment,” Anthony said. “I’m pretty sure they did protocol to tighten up the security. It was a kid though. If it was an adult, it would’ve been a different result. Seriously. He just gave me a hug.”
Courtney Lee, after getting his sore right wrist drained and missing the Atlanta game, was set to sit again Friday but is “looking forward to playing in Houston Saturday.”
He talked about taking a “magical” inflammation drug, but he still was in some pain.
“The miracle hasn’t happened yet,” Lee said.
Jrue Holiday, the Pelicans’ talented point guard, said he is happy his brother, Justin Holiday, has found a niche in New York as a mainstay backup wing.
“I’m glad he’s found some success, getting to play and really contributing to the team, really helping the team and making them better,” Jrue Holiday told The Post. “My brother can fit in any system, plays hard, knocks down jump shots. He deserves this.”
The Holidays’ parents flew to New Orleans to watch the showdown.