Knicks at Pacers
THE STORY: The New York Knicks look to defeat the Indiana Pacers for the second straight night and remain undefeated under new coach Mike Woodson. The Knicks are 2-0 since Woodson replaced Mike D’Antoni earlier in the week after New York lost six consecutive contests. The Knicks are tied with the Milwaukee Bucks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Indiana has lost two straight games but still has the fourth-best record in the East.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, MSG (New York), Fox Sports Indiana
ABOUT THE KNICKS (20-24): New York was dominant for the second straight game under Woodson. The Knicks crushed the Portland Trail Blazers by 42 points on Wednesday and led the Pacers by as many as 32 points before settling for a 115-100 victory. Unselfish team play and improved chemistry have been the themes since Woodson took over. “We have talked for a long time about finding our stride and coming together as a team and I think that is what we are doing now,” point guard Jeremy Lin said. “I think we have come together as a team. It’s good to see.”
ABOUT THE PACERS (25-17): Indiana scored more points in the final quarter (42) than the first half (31) of Friday’s game in New York. Point guard Darren Collison, with 15 points, was the only Pacers starter to score in double figures and coach Frank Vogel was highly displeased with his team’s approach and intensity level. “We’ve got to understand what we’re facing,” Vogel said. “This is an extremely talented team, maybe one of the most talented teams in the NBA, and they’re playing with a renewed sense of urgency because of the coaching change, like all teams do with coaching changes.”
BUZZER BEATERS:
1. Forwards Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire are averaging 14.0 and 12.5 points, respectively, in two games under Woodson.
2. Pacers All-Star center Roy Hibbert had just four points on Friday and is averaging only 7.5 points in March and has scored in single digits in five of eight contests.
3. Knicks guard Baron Davis injured a hamstring in Friday’s game and won’t play.