The energy for game 2 at the Garden tonight was high. Carmelo Anthony scored the first points for the Knicks and the immediate impression was that tonight, the Knicks would ride the high intensity of the crowd all the way to the last second of the fourth quarter. But these are The Knicks, and nothing they do come easily.
J.R Smith who received the trophy for Sixth Man of the Year before the game, came out with some extra pep in his step. He quickly proved why he won that award scoring every time he touched the ball. But that would be what slowed the momentum and eventually took the rest of the team out of the game, as they all stood around watching in amazement to see Smith’s next move. Smith didn’t disappoint, ending the first quarter with an unbelievable shot from 6th Ave to beat the game clock.
The Knicks ended the first quarter with 26 points to Boston’s 20.
The second quarter was a different story where Boston took control of the game with 28 points in the quarter to the Knicks 16. At the end the half, Boston proudly displayed an 8 point lead. At the end of the half, JR Smith was the game leading scorer with 13 points in 20 minutes.
And then the third quarter started and Boston apparently stayed in the locker room.
Knicks, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 34 game high points ran the court as if they were playing a pick up game. J. Smith ended the night with 19 points followed by Felton with 16. But it was Kenyon Martin who picked up the emotions the Knicks lost in the second quarter, and he took that energy and emotion all the way to the end. Martin, who was picked up by the Knicks on a 10 day contract played 23 minutes. He only had 3 points, but it was his intensity on defence that got the Garden faithful going. Martin ended the game with 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 4 block shots.
Knicks ended winning the game with a final score of 87 – 71.
For Boston, the third and fourth quarters were dismal. They scored a total of 11 points in the third and 12 points in the fourth. Paul Pierce ended with 18 points, followed by Kevin Garnett with 12 points and 5 fouls. Green and Crawford both had 10 points and it was single digits from there on. The series now goes to Boston for a Friday night game, with the Knicks leading the series two games to none.
