Knicks Out Shoot Hornets 117-111 For First Win Of Season

Posted by Jeff Sack under NBA Game Recap

If you are hoping to watch a good defensive battle than the New York Knicks are not the team for you. Defense seems to be a word that is foreign to the team’s vocabulary. They can put the ball in the bucket but unfortunately they allow the other team to do it at a greater pace then they score themselves. Through the first three game of the season New York was allowing opponents to score almost 13 points per game more than they were attaining. Not surprisingly the team from Gotham was 0-3.

However Monday night even though they allowed New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul to record a double-double with a game high 32 points as well as 13 assists and another double-double to center Emeka Okafor the Knicks defeated the Hornets 117-111. The victory in front of the home crowd at MSG was their first of the season and they were led by center David Lee scoring 28 points.

New York came out with guns blazing in the first and held a healthy 31-24 advantage at the end of the quarter. The Hornets were able to stand toe to toe with the Knicks in the second however New York still led 58-52 as they would reach the half.

The Hornets kept their offensive flow going strong in the third however the Knickerbockers apparently left their offense back in the locker room as New Orleans would hold an 81-77 lead heading into the final 12 minutes of play. The two opponents traded the lead back and forth in the opening minutes of the fourth however New York took the lead for the rest of the evening with 8:41 left as Al Harrington drained a jumper giving his club and 89-87 lead.

David Lee led the way in the victory for the Knick with 28 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists while Al Harrington came off the bench with 24 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 steal. Larry Hughes dropped 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal while Chris Duhon added 18 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds and 2 steals.

CP-3 led all players as he recorded a double-double with 32 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds and 1 steal while Emeka Okafor also had a double-double scoring 24 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocks. David West contributed 21 points, 3 assists and 3 rebounds while Peja Stokavic came off the bench with 11 points, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 rebound. New York improves to 1-3; they play hosts to the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. New Orleans drops to 1-3 and they will host the Dallas Mavericks Wednesday.

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