Sat 24 Nov 2007
Knicks snap 8-game losing streak, beat Bulls 85-78
Posted by Stephen Rhodes under Main
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What tonight’s game provided was a tale of two teams who are in dire need of victories - in the worst possible way.? But the only difference being is that the Chicago Bulls have in recent years come off sluggish starts.? The New York Knicks, on the other hand, when they hit the bottom, they tend to stay there.? But as the saying goes, you have to crawl before you learn to walk, then walk before you learn to run.? Perhaps the Knicks are finally getting it, as they defeated the Bulls 85-78 at Madison Square Garden.
As has been both teams’ tendency, neither team shot very well - Chicago shot only 35%, while New York shot 39% from the floor.? Come to think of it, they were identical in almost every stat - except personal fouls, where Chicago?committed 29 times; New York committed only 19.? Both teams struggled early; New York shot only 5-for-17 in the first quarter yet trailed Chicago by only 19-18 after one period.
The Knicks improved a bit in the second quarter, while the Bulls shot even worse than in the first period.? Chicago made only 4-of-16 shots in the 2nd period, while New York gradually pulled away from a 24-24 tie with a 15-3 run over a 6-minute span in the first half.? Knicks center Eddy Curry’s hook shot gave New York a 39-27 lead; they went into halftime holding a 43-31 lead.
New York was ahead 65-54 going into the 4th quarter, but Chicaog made their first 5 shots, including a pair of 3-pointers by Bulls forward Andres Nocioni, narrowing the gap to a 68-67 Knicks lead.? Chicago tied it twice later in the period, but went cold yet again down the stretch and could not recover.? The Knicks’ high scorer was the aforementioned Curry with 21 points; F Zach Randolph added 20 points but committed 6 turnovers.? Guard Stephon Marbury chipped in 19, while G/F Quentin Richardson, despite a poor scoring night (3 points), grabbed 15 boards.
Chicago was led by Nocioni with 23 points and 9 rebounds, while G Ben Gordon added 13 in a losing effort.? New York (3-9) plays again on Monday when they host the Utah Jazz, while Chicago (2-9) flies to Canada to take on the Toronto Raptors on Sunday.
