The New York Knicks bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 with a 105-79 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 2 on Tuesday. The Knicks were able to pull away in the fourth, adding to their 72-66 lead by outscoring Indiana 33-13 during the final quarter.
Carmelo Anthony bounced back from a disappointing Game 1 to lead the Knicks to victory. The star forward scored a game-high 32 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out three assists. Anthony also recorded two steals in the Knicks' strong defensive effort.
"I think for the most part from the start of the game and throughout the whole game, I think we played with a sense of urgency today," Anthony told ESPN. "We played the way we've been playing as far as competing at the highest level."
Anthony scored 16 of his 32 points during a 30-2 Knicks run during the second half that gave the Knicks a sizeable advantage. His clutch shooting played a major role in New York's series tying win.
New York also received a spark from point guard Pablo Prigioni. Prigioni scored 10 points and went 4-4 from the field while playing limited minutes despite starting.
But it was his clutch fourth quarter shooting that seemed to start the surge for the Knicks. Prigioni scored eight of his ten points during the final quarter of play, connecting on both of his three point attempts. His floater layup with 10:11 remaining put New York up by 11, a deficit that was just too large for Indiana to overcome.
Iman Shumpert added 15 points to the Knicks' scoring effort as well. Raymond Felton scored 15 as the Knicks turned a close game into a blowout over the final 15 minutes.
Tuesday night's win marked the first time the Knicks scored 100 points in a playoff game since June 9, 1999 when they beat the Pacers 101-94. It was New York's largest margin of victory in the postseason since their 109-75 rout of Detroit on April 24, 1992, according to information provided by ESPN stats and Info to the Knicks.
Both teams will look to gain an advantage as the series continues Saturday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Pacers are 30-11 at home this season, while the Knicks are 28-18 on the road. Tip off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
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