NEW YORK (Reuters)-the National Basketball Association (NBA) season belatedly got underway Christmas day, New York Knicks packaging up a 106-104 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Carmelo Anthony was Chief for the New York City, scoring 37 points as the Knicks ran out winners in a thrilling opener to truncated season 66-game.
The season was supposed to begin last month, but nearly was canceled because of the dispute prolonged work between players and team owners.
When they reached a new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified on 8 December, it was decided to start Christmas day, leaving only 17 days for groups to get their cards filled service in brief training camps, two warm-ups and get ready for the openers Sunday.
But the controversies and disputes appeared forgotten for a long time as the two Eastern Conference teams that took the Court at Madison Square Garden before a lively crowd included Alicia Keys, singer and former Tennis champion John McEnroe.
The Knicks were faster than the blocks 34-23 lead at the end of the first quarter and leaving Cavaliers head coach Doc Rivers fuming with his team, telling them that plays soft ".
Boston lodge 62-52 at the half-time but the build-up to 35 points in the third quarter to lead by eight heading into the final period.
The Cavaliers won their last eight games against the Knicks, but New York, strengthened by the addition of the Center Tyston Chandler, fought this time.
Two free throws by Anthony with 16.3 seconds proved to be the game winner as Boston failed to score again, Marquis Daniels is missing a three pointer from the corner and then Kevin Bryant missing a 16 footer at the buzzer.
Rajon Rondo was the scorer for Boston with 31 points, while Anthony scored 17 points in the last quarter for New York.
"We will win," said Anthony, who joined the Knicks from Denver in February.
"It was not easy, we knew that was going to be a battle. Taken early, Boston is a veteran Group, returned and made a few runs but we stuck with it and won, "he said.
(The reference to Simon Evans in Miami, edited by Julian Linden)
No comments:
Post a Comment