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Indiana Pacers pull away from New York Knicks, 101-89, for first victory of 2009-2010 NBA season
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Indiana Pacers G Dahntay Jones
The Indiana Pacers left Indianapolis Wednesday without a victory or much confidence.
They'll return having gained both.
The Pacers, after three disheartening losses to start the 2009-2010 NBA season, did a few things they very much needed to do on Wednesday night in New York. But mostly they won, beating the New York Knicks, 101-89, in front of an announced 19,273 at Madison Square Garden in New York.
“This gives us a little confidence boost,” Pacers G Dahntay Jones, who had the first double-double of his career with 19 points and 12 rebounds, told Pacers Television.
It was needed.
The Pacers, after missing the postseason the last three seasons, entered the season talking of improving on defense – and of pushing for the postseason – that despite several new faces in the lineup, and despite the absence of F Tyler Hansbrough and F-G Mike Dunleavy because of injuries. They lost their first three games to Atlanta, Miami and Denver, and also lost F Eric Foster (ankle) for several weeks and F Troy Murphy (lower back bruise) for possibly a few games.
Against the Knicks (1-3), it wasn't about who wasn't there.
Rather, it was about who was.
With F Danny Granger (team-high 21 points) having fouled out with 3:38 remaining and the Pacers leading 91-87, G T.J. Ford (16 points) – maligned by observers while struggling in the first three games – scored the next eight Indiana points as the Pacers pulled away.
“We just kept the tempo,” Pacers Head Coach Jim O'Brien told reporters afterward. “Our guys are in terrific condition to be able to play that hard in the second half after playing back-to-back nights.
“It shows how hard they worked up to this point.”
Jones, considered a defensive specialist before this season, was one of three Pacers with double doubles. Center Roy Hibbert, who recorded his first career double-double in a loss to Denver Tuesday, recorded his second, producing 15 points and 14 rebounds, and G Brandon Rush had 12 points and 10 rebounds.
All five Pacers starters finished in double figures.
“We haven't been shooting the ball well the past three games, but we shot the ball well tonight,” Jones said.
The Pacers also played perhaps their best defensive game of the season, holding the Knicks to 39.5 percent shooting from the floor. Once the Knicks cut the lead to 79-78 with 9:27 remaining, New York missed its final 12 field-goal attempts. The Knicks had averaged 40.5 points in the fourth quarters of their last two games.
“We started talking on defense in the second quarter,” Jones told Pacers Television. “If we communicate and keep talking like that, we make good things happen on the defensive end.”
Also:
* O'Brien said it wasn't known how long Murphy will be out. The Associated Press reported that O'Brien said Murphy had trouble putting on his shoes Wednesday.
O'Brien to reporters on Dahntay Jones: “Dahntay has been playing very aggressive offensive basketball for us. He’s going to end up becoming a better playmaker than he is right now. He’s never had the freedom that we’re giving him and he’s taking full advantage of it.”
* The Pacers' next game is against the Washington Wizards Friday at 7 p.m. The team will celebrate its 10th anniversary in Conseco Fieldhouse and the night also will feature a ceremony, including the raising of a banner in tribute to co-owner Melvin Simon, who passed away recently.
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