Knicks star Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 42 points along with 17 rebounds, but New York still fell just short to the Boston Celtics, 96-93, in Game 2 of an Eastern Conference Playoffs First Round best-of-seven series.
Already down, 1-0, in the series, the Knicks had to face the No. 3 seed Celtics on the road in Boston, again, this time without two of its best players, Chauncey Billups and Amare’ Stoudemire. Billups injured his knee in Game 1 on April 17 and has been listed as inactive, while Stoudemire left during Game 2 after only 16 minutes play due to back spasms.
But the injuries didn’t stop No. 6 seed New York from competing tough against Boston, thanks to the hot shooting of its newest superstar. Anthony made 14-of-30 shots, 4-of-8 from three-point land and 10-of-11 from the foul line during an exhausting 43 minutes of play.
Unfortunately for the Knicks, that wasn’t enough to edge Boston’s balanced scoring attack led by point guard Rajon Rondo with 30 points and seven assists. Rondo sliced through New York’s defense, finding Paul Pierces for 20 points and Ray Allen for 18. Veteran forward Kevin Garnett added 12 points, including a huge jump hook shot with less than 20 seconds left that helped clinch the Celtics’ win.
Game 3 is scheduled for Friday April 22 at Madison Square Garden in New York at 7 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN.