Post Game Recap
The Knicks were able to go into Boston
and handle business Wednesday night, coming away with a 116-92 blowout victory
over the Celtics. It was a total team effort tonight from the Knicks on both
ends of the court overall as they took control of the game right from the
start. The victory tonight moves the Knicks to three games behind the Atlanta
Hawks for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs and alone in ninth
place. The Knicks will take their five game winning streak into a matinee with
the Milwaukee Bucks Saturday night and look to inch closer to the playoffs.
-Player of the Game: Cole Aldrich
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| Jared Wickerham-Getty Images |
With Tyson Chandler and Amar’e Stoudemire both sidelined for
tonight, the Knicks needed someone to step up and try filling the void. That
person tonight was Aldrich, who made his first NBA start and put together a
great game in the process. Aldrich recorded a double-double, scoring a
career-high tying 12 points and pulling down 10 rebounds. He also brought
intensity and production to the defensive end, blocking three shots. Aldrich
knows his role with the team and that he probably will not play much, if at
all, when all the regulars come back, but for one night Aldrich was called upon
and he showed up. This is a good thing all around as the Knicks now know what
Aldrich can give them in a pinch and Aldrich now has the confidence that he can
come in and produce.
-Positives
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| EPA/CJ Gunther CORBIS OUT |
Carmelo Anthony led the way scoring 34 points. He set the
tone early on for the Knicks, scoring 13 points in the opening quarter to open
up a lead that the Knicks would never relinquish. Anthony had it going from
deep, knocking down 4-7 from beyond the three point line and making all eight
of his free throws. He also grabbed nine rebounds, handed out two assists and
getting one steal.
The bench tonight provided a lot of positives for the
Knicks. With Stoudemire and J.R. Smith being inserted into the starting lineup
the bench recently has lacked punch but tonight they did well. Tim Hardaway Jr.
poured in 22 points as he was on fire from the field all night, knocking down
7-11 from the field, 3-5 from deep and 5-6 from the charity stripe. Pablo
Prigioni provided timely baskets with his two three point makes and veteran
leadership while on the court with four assists, two rebounds and three steals.
Jeremy Tyler gave energy and a presence on the boards for the Knicks, grabbing
seven rebounds. The biggest surprise was Earl Clark, who was inserted into the
rotation tonight with all of the injuries. Like Aldrich Clark made the most of
his chance, scoring six points to go with six rebounds, two blocks, an assist
and steal.
The offense was clicking all night for the Knicks from the
opening tip through the final whistle. It was a wire-to-wire victory for the
Knicks, the second time they have accomplished such a feat during the winning
streak. Tonight they lit the Celtics up from deep, shooting 11-19 from the
three point line and from the field overall, going 42-80 on the night. They
also made the most from their trips to the charity stripe, something that has
plagued them at times but not tonight, making 21-24 free throws.
-Negatives
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| Jared Wickerham-Getty Images |
The Knicks showed a little bit of a letdown in the third
quarter. After opening up a 20 point lead going into the half, the Knicks saw
that lead cut in half when the fourth quarter started. A big reason for that
was Jeff Green, who scored 17 of his 27 in the third quarter. That combined
with a poor shooting quarter got the Celtics back into the game going into the
fourth quarter. It was a short lived comeback though, as the Knicks ended the
game strong, outscoring the Celtics 31-17 in the fourth quarter to come away
with the easy victory.
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