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Pacers visit Knicks in front end of home-and-home set

Mar 16, 2012 - 3:14 PM (Sports Network) - The New York Knicks should expect a tougher challenge in game two of the Mike Woodson era this evening when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to town in the first end of a home-and-home at Madison Square Garden.

Mike D'Antoni resigned as the head coach of the Knicks on Wednesday and the team responded under the interim Woodson with a tremendous effort albeit against a lifeless Portland team that fired its own coach a day later.

Carmelo Anthony, whose inability to adapt to D'Antoni's speedball offense likely hastened the coach's departure in what the front office called a "mutual decision," scored 16 points and handed out seven assists.

"We came out, put everything aside....and had fun," Anthony said. "We haven't had fun like that in a long time. ... It was good to get a 'W.'"

Baron Davis accounted for 10 of the team's 35 assists on 43 successful field goals, while Amare Stoudemire scored 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds in a much-needed win for a Knicks team that has failed to put back-to-back wins together since winning seven in a row at the height of Linsanity from Feb. 4-15.

"I just think he?s just going to utilize his leading scorers," Stoudemire said of Woodson. "With myself and Carmelo, he?s going to utilize us to make sure that we take advantage of our every opportunity out there on the court. We've been profound scorers all our career, so we're going to make sure we take advantage of it."

J.R. Smith and Steve Novak chipped in 23 and 20 points, respectively -- most coming after New York built a 26-point halftime lead. The reserves combined for 13 three-pointers to highlight a 19-of-38 effort from behind the arc.

"When you look into their eyes after something like this has happened, you know, you wonder as a coach are they mentally there,"said Woodson. "I just told them to take a deep breath and relax and let?s go out and have fun and play basketball the way I think we're capable of doing it, and I think they responded."

Tonight, though, the Knicks face a tough Indiana team that comes in on the heels of a dominating win over Atlantic Division-leading Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Danny Granger had 20 points to lead five Pacers in double figures, as Indiana averaged over 63 percent shooting in the second and third quarters to rout the 76ers, 111-94.

David West finished with 18 points, George Hill contributed 17 and Tyler Hansbrough and Roy Hibbert had 14 apiece for the Pacers, who have won two in a row after a four-game losing streak.

"Tonight we probably had our best offensive game of the year," said Pacers head coach Frank Vogel. "They're a very good basketball team. This is a big win for us."

Indiana also bolstered its bench at the trade deadline on Thursday, acquiring guard Leandro Barbosa from the Toronto Raptors for a second round pick and cash considerations.

Barbosa has averaged 12.2 points in 42 games, all in a reserve role, this season -- close to his career average of 12.6 points.

The Pacers have lost three of their last five at Madison Square Garden.