Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Rough One Against the Celtics

Jim Valvano once described basketball as a game of runs. He must have been thinking about the Knicks-Celtics contest at MSG. The Knicks started first, racing to an early lead. The Celtics came back. The Knicks went on another run. The Celtics came back.

The in the second half, it was the Celtics turn to take the lead. The Knicks followed shortly there after. But time ran out eventually and the Knicks couldn't catch up that last time. With Rajon Rondo suspended, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett rose to the occasion.

Things became heated between Garnett and Carmelo Anthony (20 points on 26 FGA) amid the frenzied Garden atmosphere. Garnett was his usual dirty self, spewing filth across the court. Anthony answered and at one point, both received a technical  Garnett's venom was so inappropriate that Anthony waited to confront him after the game.

Neither Anthony nor J.R. Smith (24 points on 7 for 18 from the field) shot the ball well. Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler did, but only took 12 shots combined. Both made 4 and both scored 13 points. Jason Kidd and Steve Novak were a combined 5 for 6 from three, part of the reason the Knicks held a first half lead. Marcus Camby added 7 rebounds in 10 minutes.

The Knicks shot the ball from three effectively going 14 for 32. But The 13 turnovers were more than usual. It was one of the rare occasions where the Knicks turned the ball over more than did their opponent. The Celtics only had 10.

The Knicks lost 102-96 and are now 23-11.

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