Pacers pound Knicks with balanced attack

NEW YORK (AFP) –

Carmelo Anthony (R) of the New York Knicks dribbles past Indiana Pacers’ Tyler Hansbrough in New York on May 5, 2013. The Pacers rallied from a first-quarter deficit to beat the Knicks 102-95 in game one of their NBA 2nd round playoff series.

David West scored 20 points as the visiting Indiana Pacers rallied from a first-quarter deficit to beat the New York Knicks 102-95 in game one of their NBA second round playoff series.

All five starters finished in double figures Sunday for the Pacers, who played with an edge but kept their composure to bring back memories of the Indiana teams of the 1990s that battled hard against their New York Eastern Conference rivals.

“We did a good job of taking advantage of our shots and finishing around the rim,” said power forward West of the Pacers, who outrebounded the Knicks 44-30. “We were attacking, we were aggressive.”

The Pacers squared off against the Knicks three consecutive years beginning with the 1993 post-season then again between 1998-2000.

Centre Roy Hibbert finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in the best-of-seven series.

Paul George had 19 points and D.J. Augustin scored 16 points in just under 13 minutes of playing time for the Pacers, who knocked off the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round.

David West of the Indiana Pacers is pictured during their game against the New York Knicks on May 5, 2013. He scored 20 points as the visiting Pacers rallied from a first-quarter deficit to beat New York 102-95.

“Just a strong defensive effort and then offensively the guys played with great poise,” said Indiana coach Frank Vogel.

Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in scoring but shot just 10-of-28 from the field. He finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds for New York, who are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Guard Raymond Felton finished with 18 points on eight-of-12 shooting from the field.

That season, New York reached the NBA semi-finals before losing to the Pacers in six games.

The Knicks led 27-22 heading into the second quarter but saw that lead disappear in the second as the Pacers seized a 52-46 point lead at halftime.

Anthony, who picked up his fourth foul in the third, scored six consecutive baskets to start the fourth and get the Knicks to within 81-71.

But back-to-back field goals by Tyler Hansbrough pushed the Pacers’ lead back to 14 and New York never seriously threatened again.

Felton had 12 points in the opening quarter, which saw the Knicks finish it on a 9-0 run.

New York, which shot just 35-of-81 (43.2 percent) from the field, will also host game two on Tuesday with game three set for Saturday in Indiana.