Cavaliers Vs. Knicks: New York Catches, Dismantles Cleveland In Second Half

The Knicks entered Wednesday night's game at Madison Square Garden healthy and having practiced for the first time in weeks, while the Cavaliers were short-handed and having just suffered a debilitating loss to the Celtics. Of course, this being the NBA/lockout season/Knicks, New York looked anemic and disjointed to open its meeting while the Cavs, even without Anderson Varejao, hummed along to a double-digit lead in the first half. A perfect about-face in the second half, though, launched the Knicks onward to a 120-103 victory.

The evening began with the Cavs stepping into the Garden and promptly dismantling the place. Spurred by the drives of the unreasonably polished Kyrie Irving, Cleveland pulled apart the flimsy Knicks defense to create endless open shots. Irving repeatedly bypassed Jeremy Lin, hooked Tyson Chandler, then pierced late-arriving help with an entry pass to a big man, a kick to Antawn Jamison or Daniel Gibson or a gliding shot at the basket. On their own end of the floor, Lin and the Knicks worked to find open shots, but neglected many opportunities and bungled the others. New York failed to force turnovers for easy transition baskets and missed every open three. They trailed by as many as 17 points and faced a 12-point deficit at halftime.

Something turned at the half. Exactly what flipped the Knicks is anyone's guess (one can't help but wonder), but the change of fortune was unmistakable. New York toppled the Cleveland lead and built one of its own in no time. The Cavs offered little resistance, surrendering eight turnovers, many of them unforced. The Knicks did plenty of work themselves, though. The starting unit raised its defensive pressure and fed an increasingly effective Carmelo Anthony (a team-leading 22 points on the night) to exploit Cleveland turnovers. Then the second unit, with the dazzling Baron Davis (eight assists, zero turnovers in 15 minutes) behind the wheel and the dead-eye Steve Novak (5-for-6 three-point shooting after the half) riding shotgun, blew the game open with that usual high-flying fare. Lin (19 points, 13 assists, one bloody nose) and the Knicks starters returned only because the bench guys deserved a rest and a standing ovation, and had little trouble closing out the win with some fine transition finishes of their own.