Anthony joins Chamberlain and Abdul-Jabbar with 40+ playoff performance
From Elias: Carmelo Anthony scored 41 points as the Knicks defeated the Heat to stay alive in their first-round playoff series. Anthony, who scored 42 points for New York in Game 2 of last year’s first-round loss to the Celtics, also had a pair of 40-point playoff games for the Nuggets (41 points in 2009 and 42 in 2010). Anthony joined Wilt Chamberlain (Warriors and 76ers) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Bucks and Lakers) as the only players in NBA history with at least two playoff games of 40 or more points for each of two different franchises.
(Source: ESPN)
May 7, 1995 - Reggie Miller scored eight points in the final 8.9 seconds to stun the Madison Square Garden crowd as the Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 107-105 in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Semifinals series. The Pacers went on to win the series in seven games.
(Source: hoopedia.nba.com)
Everybody keeps telling me how surprised they are with what I’ve done. But I’m telling you honestly that it doesn’t surprise me. I knew I could do it.”
— Patrick Ewing
(Source: basketball-plays-and-tips.com)
11 straight playoff losses for Knicks, near tying record at 12
From Elias: The Knicks’ loss in Miami on Saturday marked New York’s 11th straight loss in a playoff game, a streak that stretches back to 2001. It’s tied for the second-longest streak in NBA history; the Baltimore Bullets (1965-1970) and the Nuggets (1988-1994) each lost 11 in a row, and the Grizzlies set the record of 12 consecutive playoff losses from 2004 to 2006.
The Knicks’ fate was sealed in a second quarter in which they scored 13 points and committed 13 turnovers. It was the highest total of turnovers by a team in one quarter of a playoff game since the Bucks committed 13 turnovers in the third quarter of a game at Detroit in 2004.
(Source: ESPN)
LeBron’s 32 points in 31 minutes leads to blowout
From Elias: LeBron James scored 32 points in a mere 31 minutes, 41 seconds of playing time in the Heat’s 100-67 rout of the Knicks in the opening game of a first-round series. It was the 41st time in his 93 playoff games that James has scored 30-or-more points, but it was the first of those 93 games in which James connected on at least 70 percent of his field-goal attempts; he made 10 of his 14 field-goal attempts on Saturday.
The final score was significant, too. The NBA counts more than 3,300 playoff games in its history, dating back to 1947; Miami became just the third team to score in triple figures while holding its opponents below 70 points. In the first round of the 1996 playoffs, the Jazz took a 102-64 decision from the Trail Blazers, and in the opening round in 2009, the Nuggets won by a 121-63 score at New Orleans.
(Source: ESPN)
April 29, 1970
Los Angeles Lakers guard Jerry West hit a 60-foot desperation shot at the buzzer to tie Game 3 of the NBA Finals against the New York Knicks. In overtime, however, the Lakers scored just six points and lost 111-108.
Back in those days, there were no three-pointers…had there been, this shot would’ve won the game for the Lakers.
(Source: nba.com)
Bibby takes advantage of rare start
From Elias: Mike Bibby turned back the clock on Thursday night, recording 12 assists in the Knicks’ 104-84 victory at Charlotte. Bibby, who made only his fourth start of the season, posted at least 12 assists in a game for the 38th time in his NBA career. But it was his first such game since January 23, 2009, when Bibby was a member of the Hawks.
(Source: ESPN)
Knicks win a three-point shootout
From Elias: The Knicks topped the Hawks, 113-112, in a long-distance shootout that saw New York make 12 of 19 three-point attempts (63.2%) and Atlanta hit 15 of 23 shots from downtown (65.2%). It was the first game in NBA history in which both teams made more than ten three-point field goals while each shot 63 percent or better from beyond the arc.
(Source: ESPN)
Irving ices Knicks, continues to lead rookies
From Elias: Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 21 points in the Cavaliers’ victory over the Knicks. It was the 10th time this season that Irving was the outright leading scorer for both teams in a game. No other rookie has done that even half as many times in 2011-12. With only four games remaining in Cleveland’s season Irving will not be able to match LeBron James’ rookie total in that category. James scored more points than any other player on either team 17 times in 2003-04.
(Source: ESPN)
Carmelo scores 21 in first quarter
From Elias: Carmelo Anthony scored 21 points in the first quarter en-route to a 33-point performance in New York’s victory over the Nets in New Jersey on Wednesday night. It is the most points Anthony has ever scored in the first quarter of a game in his career. His previous high point total in the first quarter was 20 while he was with Denver against Washington on February 8, 2008.
(Source: ESPN)
