NBA Recap: New York Knicks 103 – Chicago Bulls 95
Christmas surprise! With a powerful defence effort in the fourth quarter, the New York Knicks took a Christmas Day matinee with a 103-95 victory over the visiting Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden in New York.
All five Knicks starters scored in double figures. Raymond Felton was the real catalyst as he recorded 20 points, 12 assists, and 5 steals for Knicks in the eighteenth victory of the season. Felton dished out double-digit assists for the sixth consecutive
game. Amar'e Stoudemire contributed 20 points and 10 rebounds and Raymond Felton registered 20 points and 12 assists for Knicks.
Carlos Boozer did all he could as he led the Bulls with game-high 26 points and 19 rebounds. Derrick Rose scored 25 points, dished out 8 assists, grabbed 7 rebounds, and had 6 steals in the defeat.
Game Story
Although the Knicks are not known as a defensive team, but this time they presented a defensive play against Bulls. The New York held Chicago to just 12 points in the fourth quarter and forced the opponent team into 44 percent shooting from the field.
After 1994, it was time that these two teams met on the holy occasion of Christmas. However, the Knicks brought cluster of 19,763 basketball fans back into the game in the final stanza with a sizzling defence play and a great home victory.
While talking about the significance of beating the Bulls, which they are currently a game behind in the Eastern Conference standings, Knicks Coach Mike D'Antoni said, “That's real important because we're chasing them. One thing is that we play them three
games and we have won two so we get the tiebreaker now. That helps. It's just a little thing but there's a lot of basketball to be played."
Both teams started ice cold, but the New York got it offensively later on and held a 21-20 lead at the end of opening quarter.
In the second quarter, Chicago Bulls were right back into the game to make the score a respectable one. The Bulls grabbed a 54-52 lead at halftime.
It was Knick’s turn again; Stoudemire's dunk with 8:45 left in the third and Felton’s two baskets pushed the Knicks ahead by 64-63. A short time later, Felton drilled another triple and Landry Fields followed him with a three-point play to extend the lead
to 6 points.
The game turned into a brick-laying contest in the fourth quarter, the Chicago made its first two shots in the fourth quarter and the game was tied, 87-87.
Ronnie Brewer's two missed free throws were Chicago's best chance to come back into the game; however, Wilson Chandler capped New York's run with a short jumper for a 97-87 lead. The Bulls did not get closer than 6 points for rest of the game.
"We're really playing great defence right now, our offense is clicking right now, as well. Our defence has really been great over these past couple of games. That is why we are winning games. We beat a good team today. They are one of the best teams in the
league right now, in my opinion. So, it's just a good win for us, especially on Christmas Day,” Felton said.
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