Raymond Felton not a factor as Knicks lose again
Knicks point guard Raymond Felton, center, drives against Miami Heat center Chris Bosh as Heat's Mario Chalmers defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014. Credit: AP / Alan Diaz
The good news for Raymond Felton is that he wasn't booed. The Heat-centric crowd was more concerned with LeBron James' new facemask than giving a hard time to the embattled Knicks point guard.
Nothing else, however, went well for Felton Thursday nightas the Knicks continued their free fall, losing their fourth game in a row.
Felton started the 108-82 loss to Miami two days after being arrested and charged with two counts of felony weapons possession. He scored two points, shooting 1-for-7 in 30:57, with five assists, two steals and two turnovers.
"Of course there's a lot going through my mind,'' Felton said after the game. "But I'm on the basketball court and I'm out here playing, so there's no excuse for that. The ball just didn't go in the hole for me, that's all. One of those nights.''
According to court documents, Felton was arrested in Manhattan early Tuesday morning -- hours after the Knicks lost to Dallas at the Garden -- after an unidentified complainant brought a loaded, high-powered, semi-automatic handgun to police Monday night. Law enforcement sources said the complainant was Felton's estranged wife, Ariane Raymondo-Felton.
Felton was charged with one count of felony third-degree criminal possession and one count of criminal weapons possession and was released after posting $25,000 bail. His next court date is June 2.
Felton did not speak to reporters before the game, when Carmelo Anthony said he supported his point guard.
"It's sad to hear all the stuff that happened,'' Anthony said. "I don't know all the details, so it's kinda hard to comment on that -- but as Ray being one of my close friends, I've got to support him . . . I have to hope everything works itself out.''
Mike Woodson said after Thursday morning's shootaround that it might be cathartic for Felton to get back on the floor and put his cares behind him for 21/2 hours.
"Ray needs us in a desperate way. He's going through some tough times now,'' Woodson said. "As a part of the family, we're not going to abandon the guy. Ray was a big piece of the puzzle last year. He's had his ups and downs this year. To me, you got to help him. You can't kick him to the curb.''
Felton was grateful. "It's always good to be around these guys,'' he said. "They're the guys who show me so much support, so much love, so it definitely felt good. I still wish we could have gotten a win. It would have felt even better.''
The Knicks fell 16 games under .500 as their playoff hopes grew even dimmer. Anthony said Thursday morning that the key is to block out outside distractions.
"It's tough,'' he said. "It definitely can be a distraction if you allow it to be. I think the distraction comes when you've got to deal every day with questions you've got to answer. But the gym, the arena, is a place where you can come and kind of leave all that stuff behind for the 21/2 hours you're in here.''
With Al Iannazzone
