The New York Knicks have turned in one of their best defensive halves of the season limiting Philadelphia to 41 points on 38% shooting while taking a 49-41 lead into halftime. A late 11-0 run by the Sixers enabled them to cut a 16 point Knicks lead down to a manageable margin.
Knicks Vs. 76ers Score: Elton Brand Scores 14 But Philly Trails 49-41 At Halftime
Carmelo Anthony leads the way for the Knicks with 13 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Amare Stoudemire was extremely aggressive at the start of the second quarter scoring five of his nine first half points in the second frame when he was matched up against Philly's Spencer Hawes. Stoudemire has had a tougher time of it when guarded by Elton Brand who has the strength to prevent Stoudemire from getting into too big of a comfort zone.
Brand leads all scorers with 14 points at the half and displayed a very nice pick and pop game late in the second period. Thaddeus Young came off the bench to score 10 points but the rest of the Sixers have struggled with Jrue Holiday being just 3-11 in the first half for six points.
Mike D’Antoni went ten deep in the first half and was rewarded with 23 points from his bench. In fact it was most of New York’s bench that helped push the lead out to 16 points before that late Philly run closed the gap once again.
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