With the Knicks playoff hopes dependent on the remaining 11 games on their schedule, the first place team in the Eastern Conference tries to get back to their winning ways with reigning M.V.P. Derrick Rose returning after missing the last 22 games with a groin injury.
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| Two of the biggest stars in the NBA squared off on Easter in what may have been a playoff preview. |
The moment the ball tipped off at Madison Square Garden, the Knicks were in the drivers seat against their probable first round playoff opponent. They were doing everything on the scouting report and then some. With Carmelo taking Amar'e Stoudamire's PF position it let New York's starting 5 become that much more athletic and prone to get out in transition every chance they could. Aggressive defense by all players on the floor caused 6 turnovers in the opening 5:30 of the game when the Bulls only averaged 14 per game this season. Through most of the first quarter the Knicks ran a transition offense clinic as they ripped down boards, gave it to an outlet man, and took off to the other end of the floor. They opened up the game on a 27-6 run with Carmelo Anthony shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field. But don't give the Knicks defense ALL the credit, Chicago started out 1-9 from the field missing a few wide open mid-range jumpers while creating no intensity to match their opponent. Nevertheless New York continued the assault as every player on the court were creating for themselves and hitting from the perimeter. That was until Tyson Chandler got banged up on an offensive put back and needed medical attention from inside the New York locker room. The Bulls closed out the first quarter with a 13-2 run and chopping the once 21 point New York lead down to twelve at 31-19. The second quarter was poorly played by both squads with lack of rebounding and awful shot selection by Knicks which has been a theme for them all season. Combine all of that together and you give the Bulls plenty of opportunities to climb back in the game and they did exactly that. Everything the Knicks had been doing in the first quarter seemed to have slipped their minds which caused their lead to collapse. No offensive movement and Carmelo Anthony mainly taking the shots, some of which were forced others just bad selection in general. Derrick Rose started to get going with drives to the basket and hitting a couple 3's but Landry Fields and co. began to answer back with buckets of their own. As halftime is seconds away, Derrick Rose delivers an uplifting layup and the foul. Halftime score is 53-45 New York.
New York comes out slow to start in the second half and lets the Bulls inch even closer to gaining their first lead of the game. Landry Fields repeatedly put up wild/contested shots and very rarely converting them into points. With the crowd silent as can be and the Bulls closing in on the lead, Tyson Chandler gave them some life by diving on consecutive loose balls and fighting for rebounds. Iman Shumpert contributed to the uplifting of the crowd with a tremendous put back slam off a Landry Fields missed three point field goal. Offensively Melo got little to no touches on each possession for the Knicks in the third quarter. J.R. Smith taking unnecessary shots even though he had a cold hand going 6-22 on the game. As Melo began to get more touches he didn't do anything with them, hitting just 2 field goals in the third quarter and forcing up shots from the post. Pick and rolls and movement without the ball became completely non-existent The Bulls take their first lead at 73-72 with 35 seconds to go in the third quarter. At the end of three Chicago leads 75-72. In the fourth quarter, the Knicks offense remained tentative giving the Bulls an easier road to victory. Derrick Rose begins to take over as Chicago continues to dominate and build a lead of their own after once being down 21. A four point play with 3:30 left by Rose seemed to be the beginning of the end for New York as they trailed 89-80. J.R. Smith continues to miss his shots and fails to give Melo the ball after creating on previous plays. The Knicks begin to move the ball quickly around the perimeter which frees up shooters who knock down a couple buckets. Bulls lead by 6 and seem to be in control until a Shumpert strip and Melo layup plus the foul (misses FT) at the other end. Bulls lead 91-88 with 48 seconds to play. A defensive blunder by Chandler in fouling Luol Deng (misses both FT's) with 34 seconds left and 10 on the shot clock proved to be pivotal in the Knicks comeback. Novak lines up for a three that was literally halfway down then bounces out forcing the Knicks to foul Derrick Rose. After another pair of free throws are missed, Melo receives the ball and with 11.2 seconds left drains a three pointer a few feet beyond the arc to tie it up sending it into overtime.
In overtime the J.R. Smith we traded for started to alive hitting 2 consecutive beautiful pullback jumpers to answer the Bulls buckets. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah were the key players for Chicago in overtime in terms of offense and scoring. Knicks once again chucking up forced shots that should have cost them the game. With time winding down, Shumpert again strips Rose and New York heads the other way. After numerous missed shots and relentlessness of Tyson Chandler by tipping consecutive shots back to the hands of Knicks players, Melo hits a game-winning three pointer in the face of Luol Deng from a few feet behind the arc with 8.2 seconds left.
LEADING SCORER: CARMELO ANTHONY-43 pts, 7 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk (16-31, 4-5 3pt)
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