(Sports Network) - Al Harrington finished with a team-high 26 points and Larry Hughes added 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, as New York used strong bench play to end its six-game skid with a 110-103 win over the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Granger Goes Cold In Second Half As Knicks Top Pacers 110-103
Wilson Chandler and David Lee netted 18 and 17 points, respectively, in starting roles for the Knicks, who claimed only their second win of the young season and first since a 117-111 victory against New Orleans on November 2. New York's reserves outscored the Pacers' bench, 65-22. The Knicks also held a decisive 56-34 scoring advantage in the second half.
Danny Granger turned in a solid performance with a game-best 33 points and grabbed seven boards before fouling out for Indiana, which saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. Dahntay Jones went for 25 points and Roy Hibbert ended with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
New York trailed 86-76 after three quarters and continued to trail by 11 at 95-84 with nearly 6 1/2 minutes to play.
However, the visitors went on a 23-3 run, started by Harrington, who accounted for the first 10 points, as he nailed a trio of three-pointers. Hughes hit a pair from the foul line for a 98-97 New York edge with 3:11 left.
The Pacers went back in front momentarily at 100-99 after Granger hit a jumper near the two-minute mark, but the lead was short-lived. Hughes' rebound and putback gave the Knicks the lead for good on their next trip down the floor. Jared Jeffries and Harrington made it a 105-100 game after each made a pair from the stripe. A Lee layup and two free throws by Chris Duhon with 35.7 seconds left capped the huge run for the 109-100 cushion.
The Pacers held a slim 26-25 edge after the opening 12 minutes, but New York got a three-pointer from Chandler and a jumper by Nate Robinson to surge in front 34-31 early in the second quarter. Then, with the Knicks up by one, Jones’ jumper ignited a 16-4 Indiana run. After Granger hit from three-point range, the hosts led 51-40 with 5:19 left in the half.
A pair of Hibbert free throws and a Jones make in the closing seconds gave the Pacers a 69-54 advantage at the intermission.
The Knicks used an 11-0 third quarter run to make a game of it as New York was able to claw back to within 84-76 following Harrington’s dunk with 13 seconds remaining. Earl Watson’s free throws made it a 10-point game after three.
Indiana forward Troy Murphy (back) missed his sixth straight game...Despite the loss, Indiana has taken six of the last nine overall meetings between these teams, including a 101-89 decision at Madison Square Garden on November 4.
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