Carmelo Anthony's Top 10 Greatest Games

sportsbookreview.com

23 May 2023

When the last of the NBA draft class of 2003 hangs up his shoes (we're looking at you, LeBron), it will draw to a close the end of the most successful first-year talent injection the league has ever seen. And with one of the final active members of that group in Carmelo Anthony retiring this week, it's a good time to look back at his 10 greatest single-game performances.

It might be easy for younger hoops heads to forget just how awesome Carmelo Anthony was in his prime.

Taken third overall by the Denver Nuggets in the 2003 draft, Anthony sputtered to the finish line relative to former teammate and suspected cyborg LeBron James, averaging less than 13.5 points over his final two seasons while making just six starts in that span. But focus on his Denver and New York days – where he averaged 24.8 and 24.7 points, respectively – and you see the killer Melo was in his prime.

Anthony leaves the sport without an NBA championship, but did win a scoring title in 2012-13 while earning a well-deserved reputation as one of the league's premier offensive threats of the late 2000s and early 2010s. He also racked up 10 All-Star appearances and six All-NBA nods, a testament to his impressive consistency even when playing for bad teams.

LeBron's 10 greatest games, here's a look at the 10 greatest single-game Anthony performances, ranked by Game Score (a metric John Hollinger created, and which is featured prominently on Basketball Reference):

10. Knicks at Celtics (April 19, 2011)

While LeBron has gone 9-1 in his 10 greatest performances by Game Score, you'll find a few more losses on Carmelo's ledger. And this one stands out primarily because, despite Carmelo being responsible for nearly 60 points, his team managed just 93 total in a loss to Boston.

This sort of thing happened a lot to Anthony, who had three times more points than the Knicks' next-leading scorer (Toney Douglas with 14). And in perhaps the most stark illustration of what he faced plenty while with the Knicks, his teammates combined to shoot just 18-for-60.

9. Knicks vs. Trail Blazers (Jan. 1, 2013)

Well this seems ... familiar, doesn't it? Yep, another wasted gem from Anthony, who poured in nearly half of his team's 100 points in a five-point loss to Portland to kick off 2013. At least he had some help this time, with J.R. Smith scoring 28 points off the bench in a losing effort.

This was the story of Anthony's impressive 2012-13 campaign: Even in defeat, he was a major threat, averaging 28 points in New York's 20 losses and 29 points in the 47 wins in which he appeared. He would go on to lead the Knicks in scoring in all 12 of their postseason games.

8. Nuggets vs. Timberwolves (Dec. 10, 2008)

Hey, a win! And not just any win, either: One which saw Anthony tie George Gervin's NBA record for points in a quarter with 33 in the third period of a 116-105 triumph over Minnesota. At one point in the third, Melo scored 26 consecutive Denver points. Incredible.

If you're looking for one game that encapsulates Melo's enormous potential, I highly recommend checking out the video above – and that incredible third quarter, in particular. When Anthony was on, there wasn't an NBA player on the planet who could stop him. Just ask Minny.

7. Nuggets vs. Knicks (Nov. 27, 2009)

Before Anthony became one of the most revered Knicks of the 21st century, he had one of the best games of his Hall of Fame career against them – erupting for a then-career-high 50 points as the Nuggets outlasted visiting New York 128-125 in one of the best games of the season.

What made Anthony so lethal on this night? Consider this bit of praise from the Knicks' Al Harrington, who had 41 points in defeat: "He's got the total package right now. He's hitting 3s, he's hitting mid-range, he can get to the free-throw line whenever he wants. When you play against a guy that's going like that, there's nothing you can really do."

6. Nuggets at Bobcats (Dec. 13, 2005)

Making a living at the free-throw line is a bit of a lost art these days, with the long-range game continuing to take precedence. But this game is a perfect example of why it's so important for teams to have players who are not only great at getting to the line, but convert, as well.

Anthony's then-career-best 42 points in a 101-85 drubbing of Charlotte came on just 18 field goal attempts. The third-year forward added a whopping 18 foul shots (the rest of his team had just 11 attempts combined) and converted 15 of them to essentially put this one away.

5. Nuggets vs. Rockets (Feb. 7, 2011)

Melo's second career 50-point performance came with considerably less revelry than his first, as his Nuggets dropped a 108-103 decision to Houston. As was the case in far too many of his big games, Anthony didn't get any help from his teammates, who shot just 19-for-53. Woof.

Beyond the box score, however, this game exacerbated the strain between Anthony and the team, which had tried to sign him to an extension the previous summer. Anthony bristled when asked about the tension after the game; he was traded to the Knicks just 15 days later.

4. Knicks at Heat (April 2, 2013)

While it certainly would have felt better to put up this kind of stat line with all of Miami's Class of 2013 alumni – James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh – in the lineup, Anthony didn't quibble. His third career 50-point game was the difference in a 102-90 triumph over a Heat team missing both James and Wade, along with starting point guard Mario Chalmers.

This was one of those bizarre Anthony performances (and he had a few) where scoring was literally his only concern. He had 37 points before recording a single assist, rebound, block or steal, and his hilarious shot chart makes it look as if the entire painted area was an Acme portable hole from a Looney Tunes cartoon.

3. Nuggets vs. Wizards (Feb. 8, 2008)

You know you're in good with Allen Iverson when he gushes over your performance – and that's just what happened as Anthony had the best game of his career to date in a 111-100 win over Washington. Anthony knocked down all three of his 3-point tries and went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line, prompting praise from AI and a "ball hog" accusation in jest from Marcus Camby.

The only thing that left a bad taste in Iverson's mouth: Washington's decision to double- and even triple-team Anthony in the final minute with the game already essentially out of reach. "I was definitely surprised by that," a happily well-rested Iverson said afterward. "What for? Just to stop him from getting 50?" Yes, A.I. That's exactly why they did it.

2. Nuggets vs. Kings (April 5, 2008)

As losses go, this might have been one of the costliest of Anthony's career – which provides a sort-of sad irony in that it was also one of the greatest games he ever played. Melo was at his efficient best in this one, but Denver's 22 turnovers were its undoing in a 118-115 defeat.

Why was this loss so damaging? It left the Nuggets in serious danger of finishing eighth in the conference – and that's exactly where they ended up, earning a date with a top-seeded Los Angeles Lakers team that steamrolled Denver in four straight en route to an NBA Finals berth.

1. Knicks vs. Bobcats (Jan. 24, 2014)

It's the kind of game NBA forwards dream about: Every shot falls, every rebound is yours, and those costly turnovers that can mean the difference between Ws and Ls are nowhere to be found. This is the greatest game of Melo's career, and No. 2 isn't particularly close.

Not only did Carmelo establish new franchise and Madison Square Garden scoring records, he also became just the fifth player since 1990 with 60-plus points and 12-plus rebounds in a game. That game might have also turned the tide for Anthony, who was rumored to be headed out of town but signed a multi-year contract in the offseason and remained in NYC until 2017.