Kenyon Martin and Metta World Peace got into a "heated" verbal argument during a Knicks workout prior to Sunday's game against the Pelicans, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
Metta World Peace
#51 SF
New York Knicks
2014 STATS
- GM14
PPG6.0
RPG2.4
APG0.7
FG%.361
- FT%.714
The two veteran forwards did not come to blows, but the back and forth was described as "intense" by one source with knowledge of the dust-up.
World Peace and Martin smoothed things over prior to the Knicks' 103-99 loss to the Pelicans on Sunday night, sources with knowledge of the situation said.
"There was no pushing or shoving, certainly no punches, but it was heated," a source said. "They were jawing at each other and you're talking about two guys who are pretty explosive, guys you wouldn't want to mess with. It settled down, but nobody was too eager to jump in between them, let's put it that way."
These dust-ups, of course, are typical of the frustration that surfaces when teams are losing. The Knicks have lost nine straight games and are tied with Milwaukee for the worst record in the Eastern Conference.
It is unclear what the argument stemmed from. It wasn't the only disagreement among Knicks teammates on Sunday.
Kenyon Martin
#3 PF
New York Knicks
2014 STATS
- GM15
PPG3.7
RPG4.2
APG1.7
FG%.531
- FT%.444
MSG cameras showed Iman Shumpert yelling at Carmelo Anthony during a break in the game against the Pelicans.
Shumpert appeared to be upset at Anthony for a missed defensive assignment that led to a Ryan Anderson 3-pointer in the third quarter of the Knicks' loss.
Both Shumpert and Anthony downplayed the incident after the game.
Shumpert called it a "defensive miscommunication."
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