Final
Pacers win as Dunleavy torches Knicks again
Mar 18, 2008 - 3:37 AM By Gary Knight PA SportsTicker Contributing WriterINDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- If only Mike Dunleavy and the Indiana Pacers could play the New York Knicks every night.
Dunleavy tied his career high of 36 points for the fourth time this season and Danny Granger had a strong fourth quarter to lead the Pacers to a 110-98 victory over the Knicks on Monday.
"If he scores 36 points 50 more times in his career, that's fine with me," Indiana coach Jim O'Brien said.
It was the second time this season that Dunleavy tied his career best against New York. He also scored 36 on December 17 in Indiana's 119-92 victory at Madison Square Garden.
"This is the time of the season when I really try to step it up," Dunleavy said. "We've played these guys three times and we play them one more time. I can't really say there's a reason behind my success against them, but I'm motivated and pushed by the desire to make the postseason.
"These last 15 games; I will do anything within my power to try and get this team to the postseason. It means a lot, I've never made it, I would like to be there, and hopefully, it's something we can accomplish."
Dunleavy was 12-of-20 from the field, including 4-of-7 from the arc, and added six rebounds and four assists. Indiana led 81-79 after three, and Granger helped the Pacers open up some breathing room in the fourth.
He scored 10 of his 26 points in the first six minutes of the fourth and added 11 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season.
"I think that's a sign of a guy who's trying to lead," O'Brien said. "He picked it up to another level offensively and defensively tonight."
Indiana has been struggling and is still just 2-5 in its last seven games but remains in the playoff hunt in the weak Eastern Conference. The Pacers (26-41) are three games behind the Atlanta Hawks (29-38) for eighth place.
"This is what we needed, desperately," Granger said of the win. "We need all three games this week. We've talked about these three games being against teams with losing records, and that we need to take advantage of it. If we are going to make a move, we need to make it now."
New York was led by Zach Randolph with 21 points. Jamal Crawford and rookie Wilson Chandler added 16 and 15 points, respectively, for the struggling Knicks, who are 1-8 in March.
"The last five or six minutes, we just struggled to score," Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said. "Dunleavy was having a good game, and we had a couple of defensive breakdowns that they were able to take advantage of, and they just kind of pulled away from us."
- NBA
NEW YORK 98
INDIANA 110 FINAL
Mar 17 9:24 PM - NBA
NEW YORK 79
INDIANA 81 END, 3RD QTR
Mar 17 8:54 PM - NBA
NEW YORK 56
INDIANA 60 HALFTIME
Mar 17 8:13 PM - NBA
NEW YORK 32
INDIANA 38 END, 1ST QTR
Mar 17 7:37 PM
Related News
- Knicks Robbed By Late Call on Jalen Brunson Feb 13
- Toronto Raptors Reportedly Trade Pascal Siakam to Indiana Pacers Jan 17
- REPORT: Boston’s interest in Kelly Olynyk and obstacles to a Knicks’ Dejounte Murray trade Dec 26
- Knicks 129, Bucks 122: “Manhattanite Christmas Carol“ Dec 26
- Scenes from a Christmas miracle at MSG Dec 25
- Christmas Game Thread: New York Knicks vs Milwaukee Bucks, December 25, 2023 Dec 25
- Christmas game preview, Knicks vs Bucks: Prediction, time, and how to watch Dec 24
- Preview of the Knicks’ upcoming week, Dec. 24-30. Dec 24
- Bucks 130, Knicks 111: “Matinee game continues to bring sadness” Dec 24
- Scenes from Milwaukee being rotten house guests Dec 23
- Game Thread: New York Knicks vs. Milwaukee Bucks, December 23, 2023 Dec 23
- REPORT: Knicks sign center Dmytro Skapintsev to two-way contract Dec 23