Cleveland, OH
Carmelo Anthony Recalls Knicks-Nuggets Brawl
Ali, Frazier, Holyfield … Carmelo?
New York Knicks legend Carmelo Anthony had his share of bouts at Madison Square Garden and he has offered behind-the-scenes look at the extracurriculars on his “7PM in Brooklyn” web series, a Wave Sports + Entertainment Original. Anthony previously expounded his famous showdown with Kevin Garnett and used the latest episode to discuss the infamous brouhaha he waged against the Knicks when he was a member of the Denver Nuggets.
Prompted by guest and rapper Fat Joe, who was in attendance for the unexpected heavyweight bout in December 2006, Anthony described his involvement as getting “caught in someone else’s beef,” namely that between head coaches Larry Brown, George Karl, and Isiah Thomas.
“I see Zeke … he’s trying to get my attention,” Anthony recalled about the lead-up. “[He said] ‘Yo, don’t go to the hole.’ I’m like, what? He said tell your teammates, don’t go to the hole.”
At the time of the incident, the Nuggets had a healthy lead on the Knicks but Denver coach Karl kept his starters in the game, which was said to be a way of humiliating Thomas and New York for supposed mistreatment of prior boss Larry Brown, Karl’s close friend. The decision to keep starters in and inflate the lead was widely criticized at the time, as was Thomas’ relatively indirect threat to an opposing player.
Tensions boiled over in the penultimate minute with Denver holding a 119-100 lead: Knicks rookie Mardy Collins took down a driving JR Smith, leading to confrontations under the basket. Smith, a future Knick, attempted to confront Collins but was intercepted by Nate Robinson, who engaged Smith in a one-on-one fight that spilled into the courtside photographers’ area.
“I knew [Smith] was going to do something crazy on the dunk,” Anthony said. “Once he’s about to go up, I see Mardy Collins come flying down the court and grab him. I’m looking at Isiah like ‘you motherf***er.”
Coaches and security managed to prevent further escalation but Anthony launched a punch at Collins, striking him in the side of the face before retreating to the Denver bench with a restrained Jared Jeffries in pursuit. An insistent Fat Joe reminded Anthony that he “punched a guy in the face” several times and of his subsequent attempt to flee, giving the All-Star a chance to address his escalation.
Fat Joe claimed that Anthony was backing up to watch his work, but Anthony reminded him that the Knicks immediately sought revenge.”
“I ain’t watching the work,” Anthony said. “I had [guys] coming from this way and that!”
Anthony was on the other end of the court when Collins committed the excessive foul, which was a Flagrant 2 charge. He told his fellow panelists that, when he confronted the rookie, Collins claimed that Anthony wouldn’t do anything, leading to the mad dash.
All 10 players on the floor were ejected from the game, which Denver eventually won by a 123-100 final. The league threw the book at Anthony in the eventual discipline, charging its leading scorer at the time with a 15-game suspension, the longest among the offenders.
Robinson and Smith got 10 each and many (including Anthony) viewed the lengthy departures as the NBA attempting to set an example, as the fight came just over two years after the infamous “Malice at the Palace” between the Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers, where on-court fighting spread into the stands after a fan threw a cup of beer at Metta Sandiford-Artest (then known as Ron Artest).
The Knicks and Nuggets, of course, wound up burying the hatchet well enough to pull off a monumental deal just over four years later, as Anthony was traded from the Rockies to his hometown team in February 2011. Smith joined the Knicks as a free agent in the following year, setting the stage for the memorable “Knickstape” era at Madison Square Garden.
Make sure you bookmark Knicks on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The man wanted for the 2024 murder of a Northeast Ohio rapper in Cleveland, was arrested Thursday by members of the U.S. Marshals led Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force.
The U.S. Marshals said Steven Smith, 27, was taken into custody at a home in the 15900 block of Invermere Ave. in Cleveland.
Smith is accused of fatally shooting Carlos Banks, 28, on Dec. 29. 2024 inside an apartment at 5115 The Rising.
This is in the city’s Slavic Village neighborhood.
Cleveland EMS pronounced Banks dead at the scene.
Also known by stage name KashBankx, the 28-year-old had amassed thousands of social media followers with his rap career.
19 News previously spoke with community journalist Jaylyn King who says he’s interviewed Banks multiple times about his music career.
“Normally Cleveland has a set sound that’s really repetitive,’ said King. “He (Banks) was one that stood out and was very different than other artists”.
“This is big because he touched and influenced so many people,” said King “Even outside of music”.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
LAKEWOOD, Ohio — It was Sunday morning when Lakewood police discovered a man and woman shot dead inside a home. The shooter then turned the gun on himself.
On Monday, we learned the victims were 33-year-old Amanda Wakut and 35-year-old Richard “Ricky” Eastin. Police say the shooter was 45-year-old Stephen Davis. On Wednesday, friends and family spoke with us about the life Eastin lived.
We interviewed Ricky Eastin’s younger brother, Ian Eastin, over Zoom because he’s currently on his honeymoon in Thailand. You could easily see the resemblance between him and his big brother.
“He was one of the kindest people I know. He would be willing to give his own shirt right off his back,” Eastin continued. “We just got married last week, so I just saw him.”
Eastin said he last talked to his brother on Saturday.
“He was sending us some pictures of- that he took at our wedding, and just asking how our honeymoon was going,” said Eastin.
Then, at 2 a.m., Eastin learned he would never hear from his brother again.
“I just didn’t believe it. I still feel like how is this even possible,” said Eastin.
Police say Ricky Eastin and Amanda Wakut were found shot and killed inside a home on Chesterland Avenue around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.
3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide
3 dead in Lakewood double murder-suicide
“You’d see stuff on the news, people get shot or people get killed, you don’t believe it, like it just is unreal,” said Ian Eastin.
When officers arrived at the scene, police said the shooter, Davis, believed to be Wakut’s boyfriend, drove off in a truck. He was later stopped on Warren Road, where he took his own life.
“Ricky was there supporting her because I guess Amanda was going to break up or end stuff with that guy, and I guess he didn’t take the news well, and just started shooting,” said Eastin.
Ricky Eastin’s boyfriend shared photos with us, including one Eastin sent earlier that Saturday. We also spoke to Eastin’s friend Gwendolyn McCrary Williams.
“That really hurt and I’m angry, he didn’t deserve it, they didn’t deserve that,” said Williams.
The two worked on home improvement projects together and had been making plans just last week.
“Everybody just loved Ricky, soon as you cross his path, it was just something about him that just made you want to just always be connected,” said Williams.
That love has shown in a GoFundMe, which has already raised more than $15,000 to cover funeral expenses and support his mother, whom Eastin was caring for.
“It’s crazy how many people, how many lives he’s touched in that just short period of time that he’s lived,” said Ian Eastin.
While Ricky Eastin may be gone, his friends and family say the love and impact he left behind will never fade.
“This wonderful vibrant full of life young guy, loves everybody, he’s gone and I’m going to miss Ricky,” said Williams.
For more information on the GoFundMe for Ricky, click here.
Earlier
On Monday we spoke to Wakut’s friend and business partner, Megann Galehouse, about her. She described Wakut as a mother, athlete and someone filled with joy and laughter.
Galehouse told News 5 she had just talked to her in the days before she was killed, saying what happened seemed surreal.
“She said, ‘Happy Birthday, I love you so much,’ and I said, Thank you, I love you too,’” Galehouse said.
As police search for answers to what happened, Galehouse mourns Wakut and Eastin and is raising money for funeral costs. She’s also raising money to support Wakut’s 7-year-old son, who was with his grandmother when the shooting happened. While it still doesn’t feel real, she hopes people remember Amanda for her light and her spirit.
“She was always joking. I don’t think I will ever forget her laugh. Her laugh was really, really good,” Galehouse said.
For more information on the GoFundMe for Wakut, click here.
Nadeen Abusada is a Cuyahoga County and immigration reporter at News 5 Cleveland. Follow her on Instagram NadeenAbusada or email her at Nadeen.Abusada@wews.com.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Cleveland Police gave a tragic update to the SR-176 crash that happened in the southbound lanes near Spring Road on Tuesday afternoon.
Police said two people died in the multiple-vehicle crash that closed the highway for several hours starting around 4:20 P.M.
When officers arrived, they found three vehicles were involved in the crash.
The investigation concluded that a dump truck traveling southbound on SR-176 struck a Jeep Patriot that had slowed. The crash caused the Jeep to continue forward and collide with a Ford E-350 van.
Following the collision, the Jeep rolled over and burst into flames.
The van hit the median and overturned.
The dump truck driven by a 35-year-old male man was not hurt, according to police.
The Jeep was occupied by two people whose ages are unknown were pronounced dead at the scene.
A 71-year-old man and a 70-year-old woman, who were driving the van, were taken by Cleveland EMS to a local hospital for treatment.
The Cleveland Division of Police Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the incident. No additional information is available at this time.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
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