The thing that defined the Charlotte Bobcats in their recent winning streak was an ability to close out tight games.
The thing defining the current five-game losing streak is just the opposite.
One game after they blew an 18-point fourth-quarter lead, the Bobcats committed turnovers on four of their last five possessions Wednesday. That set up Knicks swingman J.R. Smith for a buzzer-beating 18-footer and a 100-98 New York Knicks victory.
Wednesday wasn’t the collapse that was Monday’s overtime loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. But what happened Wednesday was self-inflicted.
From the 2-minute, 10-second mark, with the Bobcats clinging to a 2-point lead, they committed a shot-clock violation, a five-second inbound violation, a walk and a bad pass.
Surprisingly, veteran Ben Gordon, an exceptional sharpshooter of late, was responsible for both the 5-second violation and the walk. The last turnover was by rookie Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.
‘Those mistakes hurt’
“He’s young, we’re young. Things like that happen,’’ Kemba Walker (25 points) said of teammate Kidd-Gilchrist. “We’ve just got to get better with late-game situations. We’ve been pretty good with that stuff. But those mistakes hurt.’’
Earlier this season the Bobcats were a perfect 5-0 in games decided by 4 points or less. That close-out precision has eroded of late, dropping the Bobcats to 7-10.
Slowing Carmelo Anthony
The late-game mistakes negated an otherwise impressive second half against a 13-4 Knicks team in contention to win the Eastern Conference. After New York star Carmelo Anthony torched the Bobcats for 20 first-half points, Anthony shot 1-of-11 in the second half for 3 points.
Some of that was Anthony missing shots he normally makes. But much of it was solid defense by Gerald Henderson, Jeff Taylor and Kidd-Gilchrist. Two games back from a foot sprain, Henderson was effective limiting Anthony’s post-ups.
Henderson outscored Anthony in the second half 13-3, which Bobcats coach Mike Dunlap will take any day.
Dunlap, who once coached Anthony as a Denver Nuggets assistant, thought those three broke Anthony’s rhythm.
“He didn’t make some of the (easy shots) he usually does,’’ Dunlap said.
Relentlessly positive post-game, Dunlap didn’t linger on the late-game turnovers.
“We’re talking about a young group going through some things,’’ Dunlap said.
“I know it’s going to come. We’re a good team. And those guys know we’re going to be a really good team.’’
fourth quarter with Gerald Henderson and Bismack Biyombo blocking back-to-back Anthony shots. After that second block, Biyombo ran down court wagging his finger, imitating how former NBA great Dikembe Mutombo celebrated blocks.
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