Amar’e Stoudemire has said his aim is simple.
“Playing at a high level is my ultimate goal, to get back to my dominant self,” Stoudemire said.
He looked that way Wednesday.
Stoudemire, whose knee ailments and surgeries have been well documented, poured in 21 points, 14 before halftime, and made several huge plays in the fourth quarter against the powerful Pacers during the Knicks’ 92-86 upset win at the Garden, their seventh straight victory.
“It‘s making a world of difference having a healthy Amar’e out there, playing like a force, putting pressure on the defense,” Tyson Chandler said.
“Playing consistently has been good,” Stoudemire said. “It allows me to play with confidence.”
During an interview on MSG Network, Garden executive chairman James Dolan said new team president Phil Jackson is an impressive figure.
“In two hours, he taught me basketball,” Dolan said. “And I learned I know nothing about basketball.”
Lance Stephenson led the Pacers with 21 points. … All-Star Paul George did not score until 21 seconds were left in the half. “It’s just a different defense,” George said. “They switch almost everything on the floor.”
Mike Woodson (100-75) became the seventh man with 100 Knicks coaching victories. Red Holzman (613), Joe Lapchick (326), Jeff Van Gundy (248), Pat Riley (223), Hubie Brown (142) and Mike D’Antoni (121) are the other six. … Tim Hardaway Jr. was 0-of-7 from the floor. … Carmelo Anthony scored at least 30 points in a game for the 21st time this season.
The prospects of catching the eighth-place Hawks still are a long shot for the Knicks, who closed the gap to four games. But Atlanta leads by five games in the loss column.
The Hawks play 10 of their final 16 games at home with nine opponents of the 16 holding winning records. For the Knicks, just five home games remain out of 14 with nine games against teams above .500.
Woodson declined to discuss what he talked about with his newest boss in their meeting Wednesday.
“We spoke a little bit today” Woodson said. “He was out at the training facility. Came in and introduced himself to the coaches and we chatted a little bit.”