This was a perfect winter night of Knick basketball, a perfect night to dream about playoff possibilities in the spring, a perfect night to visualize David Lee as an All-Star in February and Danilo Gallinari an All-Star in the future.
Last night the Knicks did not get an epic individual performance like Nate Robinson’s 41-pointer on New Year’s Night in Atlanta. This was about an epic team performance — a colossal 43-point rout of the Pacers, 132-89, at the Garden.
It was a game they led by 48 points late in the third quarter — an NBA high for this season. The victory was the Knicks’ largest margin of victory in 15 years and the sixth-largest margin in franchise history.
If they needed further proof they’ve completely turned the corner since their 1-9 start and are going to be a serious playoff contender, a half-game out of the eighth slot, this was it. The Knicks (14-20) are 11-6 in their last 17 games and 2-0 in 2010 with this wonderful encore to their sweet win in Atlanta on Friday.
And Lee, who’s seen only losing in his five-season stint, said it all last night after he hit jumpers from all spots, scoring 22 points with 16 rebounds.
“This is my favorite team that I’ve been on since I’ve been here,” Lee said. “If we do things we’re capable of doing, it has the potential to be the best team. We have a chance to be a lot better than last year if we put everything together. I’m very encouraged. After a very poor November, December was much better and I think January we can even reach new heights. This is the best I’ve felt this far in the season about us.”
Granted, it was only the Pacers (10-23), who have lost nine of 10 games, were without All-Star Danny Granger and Troy Murphy, and playing the second night of a back-to-back. But the domination was so complete that Robinson’s first game at the Garden since Dec. 1 was merely a footnote after his rousing ovation upon entering.
Robinson, who finished with just six points on 2 of 11 shooting, was still happier than a clam afterward. The only dissenting voice was Larry Hughes, now out of the rotation, who ripped coach Mike D’Antoni for yanking guys from the rotation without communicating.
“We’ve had the attitude of becoming winners, of becoming champions,” Robinson said.
The Knicks have three days off to savor this rout, as they won’t play again till Charlotte on Thursday — a team they’re battling for No. 8 seed.
Stars were abundant and they were all resting comfortably on the bench in the fourth quarter. Gallinari may have looked best, though, with a 20-point outing, with 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Gallinari made 7 of 9 shots and had the game’s highlight play — one that convinces you his growing versatility will lead him to special status.
The Italian Stallion barreled down the lane and rose for a dynamic stuff over two Pacers, including center Roy Hibbert. The Garden exploded as the Knicks went up 20-5 with 6:45 left in the first, Gallinari making his most athletic, emphatic play as a Knick.
Gallinari posed after the dunk, flexing, and staring down Robinson on the bench.
“It was a good play, a good feeling. I have to do it again,” Gallinari said. “And we played great, almost perfect.”
Robinson did a New Year’s dance on the sideline watching Gallinari’s rim-rattler. “It’s cool because Gallo can shoot and when you pump-fake, guys go and the lane’s there,” Robinson said. “He’s tall, 6-10 and showed everybody he can finish.”
There was more glory. Chris Duhon was spectacular from 3-point land, hitting 6 of 7 and finishing with 18 points. Wilson Chandler, who gets better each week, added 23 points.
The Knicks built a 32-point halftime lead. In their first wire-to-wire win of the season, the Knicks were up 9-0 after three minutes, 20-5 after five minutes and 38-16 after one quarter, and it topped out at 107-59 late in the third.
“I hope the fans can enjoy what we are doing, but we have a big hole to get out of,” D’Antoni said.