New York, NY (Sports Network) - Danny Granger led five Pacers in double
figures with 21 points, as Indiana used a big fourth quarter to earn its first
win of the season, a 101-89 victory over the Knicks.
Dahntay Jones contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Roy Hibbert notched
15 and 14 for the Pacers, who had lost their first three games of the season.
Brandon Rush added 12 points while pulling down 10 off the glass, and T.J.
Ford ended with 16 points in the win.
"(The first win) is the hardest one to get," Granger said. "Especially when
you drop two or three. You're feeling bad about the team, and you haven't
tasted the win in your mouth yet. Once you get the taste, you want more."
David Lee grabbed 19 boards to go with 20 points for the Knicks, who missed
their last 12 shots from the floor in their fourth loss in five games to open
the year.
"I don't know if it's a question of trying it too hard or wanting it too bad,"
Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni said. "But we are going to have to do a better
job than that."
Al Harrington recorded a team-high 22 points with nine boards in defeat.
A pair of Harrington free throws pulled New York within 89-87 with 5:35 left.
The visitors scored the next six points, with two free throws from Ford coming
at the 2:13 mark.
Harrington again hit a pair from the stripe, but Ford answered with a jumper
with under a minute to play. Danilo Gallinari's missed three at the other end
essentially sealed the game.
New York held a 25-21 lead after 12 minutes and continued to lead at the
break, 56-50.
The third quarter went back-and-forth until Granger's three-pointer
highlighted six straight points that cut Indiana's deficit to, 74-73, heading
to the fourth.