| Last Second Shot Sours Knicks' Comeback Authored by Mark Rowan - January 3, 2009 - 5:23 pm
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The Indiana Pacers won 105-103 after Nate Robinson's 3-pointer missed as the buzzer sounded.
"Jarrett Jack just hit a good shot," said New York's Al Harrington, who led the second half comeback with 22 of his 27 points and six rebounds in the game. "We played good defense, didn't allow him to drive, made him shoot a jumper and he made it. He didn’t leave us any time to retaliate."
The result was a bit too familiar for the Knicks and their fans. After sweeping the Knicks in head-to-head play last year, the Pacers came into Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks haven't won since December 7, to start this season's series with a 1-0 lead.
Jack led the Pacers with 29 points -- shooting 4-for-7 from 3-point range -- and made the team's last three shots of the game. His driving layup with 24 seconds left put Indiana up 103-100.
The Knicks would not go quietly though, as Wilson Chandler drove, dunked and drew the foul on Troy Murphy. He made the free throw to tie the game up with only 12 seconds remaining. It proved to be plenty of time for Jack though.
"[Jack] is a good player," said Harrington. "And I was telling these guys. They said, 'I've never seen Jarrett make shots [like that].' But me being on the West the last two years, he makes shots."
"I had five fouls so I really couldn't pressure him much," added Chris Duhon, who was guarding Jack on the last play. "But in the end I got to do what it takes for my team and that was my fault."
Duhon finished the game with 6 points, 7 assists and 9 rebounds, but also had a game-high 6 turnovers.
"I just have to do a better job commanding down the stretch. I had a couple crucial turnovers," said Duhon.
Indiana led by as much as 11 points in the third quarter. The Pacers started strong thanks in part to six efficient minutes from rookie Roy Hibbert, who got the start and was 4-for-4 from the field with 8 points. He ended the game with only 11 minutes and 10 points, however.
But it was New York's second half that forced the Pacers to win on Jack's last-second shot.
"We scored enough points in the second half. We scored 59 points," said Knicks' coach Mike D'Antoni. "The first half we didn't have as much energy as we should have and for whatever reason our legs were a little wobbly, and the game got away from us. I thought our defense was great in the second half, but we're going to have to learn how to play 48 minutes and getting guys back will help. At the same time, we had enough to win."
Quentin Richardson went down hard late in the fourth after drawing a foul. He couldn't reenter the game towards the end, but D'Antoni said he is better and that'll he'll just be a bit sore.
Richardson had 12 points and 5 boards. |
