New York forward Kevin Seraphin paid tribute to his French homeland with an inspired performance Sunday, helping the Knicks to a 95-87 NBA win over New Orleans just two days after Friday’s attacks in Paris.
The 26-year-old Seraphin scored 12 points while sporting a “Paris” haircut with the image of the Eiffel Tower and a peace sign shaved on his scalp.
Seraphin, who was born in Cayenne, French Guiana, made the most of his 13 minutes on the floor in front of a crowd of 19 800 at Madison Square Garden.
“I just wanted to do something creative, something different,” said Seraphin regarding his haircut, “not just put something on my shoes. I had no time to get a tattoo or anything, so I just wanted to do something creative.
“I got it done this (Sunday) morning. I got up early and my barber came over and we just did it. It took about an hour.”
Seraphin was acquired by New York over the summer as a free agent after spending five years with the Washington Wizards.
His parents live in Paris and he owns a home in the southern part of city.
The Knicks were led by forward Carmelo Anthony’s 29 points and 13 rebounds, but it was Seraphin and fellow reserve, point guard Langston Galloway, who had the clutch performances.
Galloway scored 15 points, eight in the decisive fourth quarter that allowed the Knicks to win just their second home game of the season.
“He (Seraphin) gets the game ball,” said Anthony. “He deserved it. He was ready. He was a big part of our run that we made in the second half.
“To see him and what he is dealing with emotionally and mentally, be prepared today when his number was called was big.”
The Pelicans have lost three in a row and nine of 10 to begin the season. They are winless in six road games.
The Knicks began the fourth quarter on a 16-7 run to take an 82-72 lead with 6:35 to play. Galloway scored six points in the surge and Seraphin contributed four.
Seraphin came off the Knicks’ bench in the third quarter and scored six key points to help New York to a 68-65 lead. His hook shot gave New York a 66-60 lead with 2:06 left in the quarter and his jumper with 14 seconds to go provided the three-point cushion going into the fourth quarter.
“He (Seraphin) has been working hard to keep himself in shape even though he hasn’t played a lot of minutes,” said Knicks coach Derek Fisher. “We felt like he was active enough and energetic enough to give us a punch.”
LAKERS HONOUR ‘TRAIN HEROES‘
The Los Angeles Lakers were among the teams around the NBA to hold a moment of silence remembering victims of the Paris attacks.
The team also held a pre-game ceremony honouring the Americans who helped thwart a terror attack on a train in France in August.
One of the men recognised, US Air Force Airman Spencer Stone, said Friday’s events in the French capital brought home the importance of his actions on the train.
“It makes me realise even more what could have happened if we weren’t able to do what we did that day,” he said.
Another of the train heroes, Anthony Sadler, was thrilled to meet Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
“That’s my favourite player and we just got to meet him. I’m star-struck right now,” said Sadler, who got to see the Lakers down the Detroit Pistons 97-85.
GOOD TO BE HOME
Derrick Favours returned to his hometown of Atlanta and led the Utah Jazz to a 97-96 victory over the Hawks.
Favours scored 23 points and pulled down eight rebounds, and while he enjoyed playing in front of a hometown crowd, he was even happier to have Utah’s French centre Rudy Gobert back from injury.
“It was awesome having Rudy back,” Favours said. “I got to move back to (power forward) and he gets to move back to (centre). I can do my thing on offense and he could do his thing. It was great to have him back.”
STAYING POWER
Minnesota forward Kevin Garnett played 24 minutes in the Timberwolves’ 114-106 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies to become just the fifth player in NBA history to log at least 50 000 minutes on court.
The 39-year-old, who was drafted out of high school by the Timberwolves in 1995, left to win a title with the Boston Celtics and returned to Minnesota in February.
He joined Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, Jason Kidd and Elvin Hayes as the only 50 000-minute men in league history.
