Written by William Lee

After finally earning a win in matinée games Sunday against the Los Angeles Lakers, New York looked to avenge a 114-73 matinée loss to the Boston Celtics from early December. With the Knicks down 0-2 in the season series so far, New York jumped out to an early lead, and never looked back, winning 114-88.

Reverse layup, slam dunk, Iman Shumpert got to the rim early, New York got into the paint easily, getting layups, dunks, just about whatever they wanted. Tyson Chandler put back, Pablo Prigioni reverse layup, Chandler alley opp, these are all the scores of the first few possessions that began the game. You get the picture, the Celtics could not defend the Knicks, and when they finally stopped the bleeding from the inside, New York would drop a three on them for good measure. New York finished the first quarter with 14 points in the paint, along with four threes to help double up on Boston 31-15 when it was all said and done in the period.

The closest the Celtics ever got back into the game, was within fourteen points, when they went on an 11-0 mid-way through the second quarter. With the score 45-31, Tim Hardaway Jr. would knock down two timely threes, and Boston never threatened again. Hardaway Jr would finish the game with 16 points off the bench. The bench contributed greatly to Tuesday night’s victory with 63 bench points. Reigning Sixth Man of the Year J.R. Smith contributed 17 points and 5 assist off the bench as well. Jeremy Tyler recorded 17 points as well, a majority of the time during garbage minutes, when the game was already out of hand, but nonetheless, a positive.

With the recent scoring outburst by Carmelo Anthony lately, for one night at least, it was not necessary. New York had a very balanced scoring attack, with five players in double figures, led by Carmelo Anthony’s 24 points.

Though it would not be all fun and games for the Knicks Tuesday night, as three players went down with injuries to keep an eye on. Iman Shumpert left the game suffering a sprained right shoulder, never returning to the court. Kenyon Martin who just made his return back to the Knicks from an ankle injury, suffered another ankle injury. Martin was vividly frustrated heading back into the locker after sustaining the injury. Tyson Chandler also sustained an ankle injury stepping on Jeff Green’s feet. Fortunately, it was nothing major, as MSG television cameras picked up Chandler saying “I’m good” on a New York timeout huddle. He was definitely good, as he would later in the game follow up a Knicks’ miss with a put back dunk. Chandler finished the game with a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds.

New York will face the Cleveland Cavaliers on national TV, on TNT Thursday night. This could be a trap game, with the defending Champions Miami Heat coming Saturday night. But the Knicks cannot look ahead, as New York only holds a two game lead over Cleveland in the standings. Also Kyrie Irving, who has recently been selected to his first start of the All Star games by the fans vote has always put on a show in Madison Square Garden, and will look to do so again, scoring a career high 41 points last season.