INDIANAPOLIS — A team that couldn’t win now can’t lose.
Carmelo Anthony, happy as a clam again, was asked last night about Danny Granger’s comment that the Pacers’ home-and-home series against the Knicks was “two very winnable games.’’
“I guess they were two winnable games,’’ Anthony said. “For us.’’
Ba-dum-bum.
With another grinding defensive stand — holding the Pacers to 14 fourth-quarter points — the Knicks wore their St. Patrick’s Day green uniforms well and rolled to 3-0 record under interim coach Mike Woodson.
The Irish eyes are smiling on the Knicks, who completed a back-to-back sweep of the Pacers, 102-88, last night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, shutting up Granger for good.
The Knicks (21-24) — back in sole possession of eighth place in the Eastern Conference — are playing with confidence, grit and gusto. They are playing like they are having fun again under Woodson after Mike D’Antoni’s resignation.
“With the way he is able to motivate, he is able to get the best out of everybody,’’ Anthony said. “Not having to worry about offense because now we rely on our defense to get our offense going, which always a good thing. It’s the intensity and focus right now.’’
Even Jeremy Lin had a throwback February performance with 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and just two turnovers. The physical Pacers knocked him around good, but the tough Lin kept getting back up for more.
And the whole Knicks squad showed resilience in the fourth quarter after letting the Pacers close to three points after the third. They outscored Indiana 25-14 in the final period to win each of the Woodson trifecta by double digits.
Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire each scored 16 points. Their minutes are down a little, but their play on both ends has picked up. Anthony played 29:40 and Stoudemire 31:31 as Woodson wants to use the deep Knicks bench.
“We’re playing great defense,’’ Stoudemire said. “We’re getting after it and playing smart. Everybody knows where the ball is going, and guys are playing with tremendous confidence.’’
The Knicks were on a six-game losing streak when D’Antoni felt he could no longer reach a disgruntled Anthony and quit, feeling Woodson would do better. And he has.
“He stays on top of guys during the game,’’ said Tyson Chandler, who had nine points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals. “He keeps us on our toes.’’
The Knicks got every big defensive rebound and the Pacers never even made a run once the Knicks went up double digits with 5:50 left on two Lin free throws.
“It turned into us grinding,’’ Woodson said. “The beauty about tonight is we lost our composure [in the third quarter], but were able to hang in there and our defense brought us back.’’
Anthony missed four free throws and shot just 1-of-4 from 3-point range, but he made key plays in the fourth quarter and his spirit was terrific all game.
With Anthony on the bench, the Knicks’ second unit led a surge in the second quarter, outscoring Indiana 27-16 in the frame to take a 60-51 halftime lead. Mike Bibby, playing for Baron Davis, and Steve Novak combined for four 3-pointers in the second period.
“We dug down today,’’ Lin said. “We kind of wore them down with our depth.”
Lin closed the half with a flourish. He tore down the lane for a tear-drop off the glass. He crashed to the floor, appearing to hit his head and seemed woozy. But on the next possession, Lin went to the hole again for a layup high off the glass.
It was that way in February during the 8-1 Linsanity surge. It disappeared when Anthony came back and an 2-8 plunge led to D’Antoni’s exit. Now Anthony is happy — and so are the Knicks.