Knicks cling to shaky playoff spot with Magic rout
By Homer D. Sayson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 29 Mar 2012
WITHOUT starters Jeremy Lin and Amare Stoudemire, the New York Knicks didn't seem to have enough firepower to prevail in a showdown against one of the beasts in their conference Wednesday night at the Madison Square Garden.
But perception is not always reality. And the Knicks proved that adage true once again when they routed the visiting Orlando Magic, 108-86, to keep a stanglehold of the 8th and last playoffs berth in the NBA's tight Eastern Conference postseason race.
The Knicks moved up to 26-25 in the East standings, shoving them 2 1/2 games ahead of the 23-27 Milwaukee Bucks, who are lurking closely at 9th place. The 18-32 Detroit Pistons are distant longshots at 10th place.
Carmelo Anthony and rookie Iman Shumpert led New York's relentless assault with 25 points apiece. The small forward-shooting guard combo drilled a combined 19 of 36 field goals including 6 of 15 beyond the arc. They also had 12 rebounds and 10 assists between them.
Orlando was in cruise control early, taking a 24-16 edge before ending the first quarter with a 29-25 lead.
But it went downhill from there for Orlando as the Knicks outscored the Magic 32-12 in the second quarter. And no thanks to a 21-0 run, matters turned exponentially worse as the blazing-hot Knicks built a 39-point lead following a Shumpert jumper that made the count 88-49 with still 2:58 left in the third period.
The third period ended at 90-51 and both teams played the final 12 minutes only because it was required.
Jameer Nelson led the Magic with 17 points and 4 assists while J.J. Redick pumped 15 off the bench. But man-mountain Dwight Howard didn't dominate the middle as expected. The Magic center had a so-so 12 points and 5 rebounds in 28 minutes of play.
The Magic shot just 32-of-69 field goals (44.9 percent), 9-of-26 threes (34.6 percent) and a pathetic 15-of-26 (57.7 percent) from the free throw line.
The Knicks, meanwhile, 43-of-85 field goals (50.6 percent), 12-of-34 threes (35.3 percent) and 10-of 12 free throws (83.3 percent). Besides outrebounding the the Magic 49-34, the Knicks also won the asssits battle, 24-14, and committed fewer turnovers, 11 to 18.
But everything isn't so rosy for the Knicks moving forward as they will miss Stoudemire for two to four weeks with a bulging disk on his lower back that will require non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation.
Lin is only day-to-day with a knee injury.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Homer D. Sayson.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 3 FEBRUARY 2026: Shakur Schools Teofimo to Become 4-Division Champ; Zayas Unifies WBA/WBO Superwelter; Kelly Beats Murtazaliev
By Eric Armit, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimán: A Grand Week for Boxing in NY
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Boxlab Promotions Euri Cedeno and Carlos De Leon Castro Shine in San Juan Victories
Wed, 04 Feb 2026National Boxing Hall of Fame 2026 is set to April 26 in Montebello, California
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Vito Mielnicki Jr. Returns Home to Defend WBC USA, IBF USBA and WBO Global Middleweight Championships Against Omar Ulises Huerta
Wed, 04 Feb 2026Noah Lucas Palcis sees action in Bangkok chess meet
By Marlon Bernardino, Wed, 04 Feb 2026Reymond Yanong Edges Out Hayato Ono for Split Decision Win in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Tue, 03 Feb 2026“I’m gonna smoke whoever is in front of me, Anthony Wright- Hearn makes his pro debut March 13 at Thunderdome 53
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Pacman's Cue Club Hosts J&P 10 Ball Cup from Feb. 4 to 7
By Marlon Bernardino, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge is back
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026WILDER AND CHISORA FACE OFF IN ICONIC TIMES SQUARE TO ANNOUNCE APRIL 4 HEAVYWEIGHT SHOWDOWN AT THE O2 LONDON
Tue, 03 Feb 2026World Boxing appoints Tom Dielen as new Secretary General
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Sullivan Management signs 19-1 power-punching Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga
Tue, 03 Feb 2026Another Grandeza in MMA is coming
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 03 Feb 2026Gracie meets Zubiri in PH
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 02 Feb 2026