Indiana 103, New York 100
Rush, Daniels key streak-breaker
At New York | Feb. 6, 2008
Running out of point guards, not to mention viable offensive options, the Pacers needed some help from unusual sources. They got just what they needed from Kareem Rush, Marquis Daniels and a team defense that finally stood firm down the stretch.
Rush scored 11 of his 24 points in the fourth quarter, including the final two baskets in a 13-3 run that turned a five-point deficit into a five-point lead with 1:26 left. Moved to the point because of injuries to Travis Diener and Jamaal Tinsley, Daniels scored nine of his 13 in the final period, hitting a pair of 3-pointers to spark the comeback, and played a vital role in quelling a potential offensive eruption from New York's Jamal Crawford, as the Pacers beat the Knicks 103-100 Wednesday night in Madison Square Garden.
The Pacers (20-30) snapped a seven-game losing streak while the Knicks (14-35) lost their seventh in a row. Indiana has won three in a row in the Garden for the first time ever.
"It feels good," said Rush. "We've been struggling for a long time. It feels good to get off this losing streak. Hopefully we can go home and finish off the first part of the season good.
"It takes the pressure off your shoulders. It's kind of a drag when you lose seven in a row. You don't know what to do. You feel bad every day. But we came out and got the win tonight and we're so happy right now, I can't even explain it."
In what was a close game throughout, with neither team leading by more than seven, the Knicks used a 16-6 run – with seven points coming from Crawford – to take an 88-81 lead with 7:26 remaining. With Daniels taking Crawford out of the picture, the Knicks made only two field goals in the final 8:20, and both were accidental.
Zach Randolph scored with 2:45 remaining when Jeff Foster stripped Eddy Curry in the lane and the ball deflected right into Randolph's waiting hands. Randolph scored again with 32 seconds left when his errant 3-pointer banked in, cutting the deficit to 103-100.
Renaldo Balkman blocked Danny Granger's drive, giving the Knicks one last shot at a tie but Daniels got double-team help on Crawford, who could do no better than a tightly guarded desperation airball at the buzzer.
"That's been our problem, having a complete game," Rush said. "We came out and played 48 minutes and got the defensive stops down the stretch and guys played big. We're happy. Hopefully we can continue to play well."
Rush, who shot 10-of-13 and pulled seven rebounds, led seven Pacers players in double figures. Mike Dunleavy had 17 points, nine assists and seven rebounds but shot just 5-of-19, Granger scored 16, Troy Murphy 15 with seven rebounds, Daniels 13 with three assists and Jeff Foster 10. The Pacers shot poorly from the 3-point line (9-of-31) and were badly outrebounded (49-34) but forced 18 turnovers – converting them into 35 points -- while committing just six.
Tinsley was on the inactive list due to pain in his left knee. Diener started his seventh game in a row but couldn't finish due to soreness in his right foot.
