New York Knicks Wallop Bobcats

February 28, 2008

(Long Island, N.Y.) After a 3 day hiatus, the New York Knicks defeated the Charlotte Bobcats at home in Madison Square Garden with a final score of 113-89 in an offensive exhibition as the Knicks used a decisive second quarter run to put the game away in the first half and cruise to the victory.

The beating they gave out to the Bobcats even surprised Knicks power forward Zach Randolph after the game. “That’s what I was thinking today, when was the last time,” Randolph said. “That’s a good question, I don’t remember; feels great to have a win like that.”

Charlotte led 25-20 after the first quarter but the Knicks used an impressive 15-0 run to close the second quarter and lead by a comfortable margin of 13 points by halftime boosted by a 34 point second period. “I thought we did a good job in pushing the ball and we were able to get some stops,” Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said. “All the guys have been working and I think their work really paid off for them tonight.”

The Bobcats who were already missing the services of versatile forward and leading scorer Gerald Wallace who suffered his fourth concussion in four years and the most severe by far last week in a game against the Sacramento Kings also lost second leading scorer Jason Richardson in the second quarter after suffering a contusion in the right eye and a corneal abrasion.

“It is tough for us when we don’t have a couple of our main scorers in the game. Tonight, we scrambled to find some offense and we couldn’t really get it going,” Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said. “Once we didn’t get the offense, we kind of broke down our defense and it kind of unraveled from there. To miss Gerald and Jason from this game is tough for this team right now.”

Nate Robinson led a balanced Knicks attack with 22 points, 6 assists and 3 rebounds while Jamaal Crawford, Zach Randolph and forward Quentin Richardson provided ample support with 20, 18 and 17 points respectively. All Knicks player who was inserted in the game scored except struggling starting Center Eddy Curry.

Off the bench, Matt Carrol led the Bobcats in place of Richardson with 19 points and 4 rebounds. Emeka Okafor notched a double double with 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Bobcats who will play Eastern Conference leader the Boston Celtics on Friday.

Posted by News LI Editor · Edited by Brianna - Filed Under Sports