Carmelo needed a hug — and little court-stormer came through: The Pelicans didn’t need an extra defender on the court as the New York Knicks were already in the tank in the final minutes of their embarrassing 99-91 loss Monday. But they got one anyway. Carmelo Anthony got the surprise of his career — and an embrace he surely could use this season — when a little boy who looked less than 10 ran onto the court during a stoppage with one minute left, hugged Anthony’s leg and ran off. -- New York Post

How Knicks ruined Carmelo Anthony’s Syracuse thrill ride: A night of mixed emotions rocked Carmelo Anthony in the Big Easy. In town with the Knicks, Anthony experienced a Bourbon Street-level high watching on television Sunday as his Syracuse Orange stunned Virginia with a miraculous late rally to earn a trip to the Final Four in Houston. -- New York Post

Alvin Gentry: Phil knows Luke Walton will be ‘terrific’ head coach: Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry, a member of Steve Kerr’s 2015 title-winning coaching staff at Golden State, said Luke Walton will be “a terrific coach” and Knicks’ team president Phil Jackson knows it. -- New York Post

Rambis sticking with what doesn't work in loss to Pelicans: Kurt Rambis stuck with what wasn’t working. The Knicks starting lineup remained the same Monday despite the team being eliminated from the playoffs, meaning rookie point guard Jerian Grant still came off the bench for the 99-91 loss to the Pelicans. -- New York Daily News

Knicks announcer Walt 'Clyde' Frazier not afraid to go after LeBron James: The Knickerbockers, in their multiple decades of dysfunction and failure, have once again reached the point in a season where the only reason to continue watching this sorry, alleged NBA product on television is to hear what Walt (Clyde) Frazier might say. By no means is this an open invitation to be subjected to four quarters of Knicks dreck on the MSGulag Network. -- New York Daily News

After Syracuse’s improbable win, Carmelo Anthony deals with disappointment of Knicks missing playoffs again: Carmelo Anthony’s embrace of his glorious past lasted about 30 minutes before he was smacked with the reality of his depressing present. Not that the Knicks could ruin his glee about Syracuse. But it took a moment to recalibrate. -- New York Daily News

Knicks lose third-quarter lead, game to undermanned Pelicans: Carmelo Anthony experienced a serious case of mixed emotions Sunday evening. Not long after Syracuse reached the Final Four, the Knicks were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive year. -- Newsday

Jerian Grant to continue coming off the Knicks’ bench: Kurt Rambis doesn’t plan to change the starting lineup or rotation much now that the Knicks are officially eliminated from playoff contention. The interim coach will continue to start Jose Calderon and Sasha Vujacic in the backcourt and bring rookie Jerian Grant off the bench. Rambis said that’s the right role for Grant. -- Newsday