Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE/Getty Images
J.R. Smith misses the rim entirely as he goes for the game-winner.

“Yeah, I mean I felt as though it was too many people,” Smith said of getting the ball to Anthony. “By the time I caught it, the clock was already at 3.5 (seconds left) and if I forced that in to him, what kind of shot is he really going to have? A turn-away fade-away? It’s not the best shot we want. I don’t think it’s enough time for him to set his feet and do what he wanted to do. I think we went with the best shot and I think it was the right shot and we just didn’t make it.”

And in the understatement of the century, Knicks coach Derek Fisher said of the final play and of the always sure-of-himself Smith:

“Once the ball came into J.R., he trusted himself,” Fisher said. “He had made some shots tonight and he took the shot. We live with that. You don’t draw it up for a three-point shot like that, but I have no problem with a guy believing in himself that he can help his team.”

NOT SO FAST

If Orlando forward and Islip, L.I. product Tobias Harris wants to play for the Knicks next season, he’s doing a good job of keeping it a secret. Harris addressed rumors before Wednesday’s game that he’s interested in signing with the Knicks this summer when he will become a restricted free agent:

“I’m going to let everything else handle itself and like I said, I’m about helping my team win and being in the present moment right now,” Harris said. “And that’s to play against the Knicks tonight.”