GAME 1
Knicks92
Raptors88
Vince Carter got the ball in the low right block early in the first quarter at the frenzied Garden, backing in on Latrell Sprewell. Carter flung the ball crosscourt, trying to hit Tracy McGrady. It flew over his head, into the fourth row of the courtside seats, nearly hitting Spike Lee in the head. The Garden howled in glee at Carter’s gaffe.
Welcome to the playoffs, Vince. Welcome to the real war.
Carter threw passes into the stands and shot balls off the back iron virtually all afternoon. But on his most miserable afternoon as a pro, during which he shot 3 for 20, the Knicks still needed to hang on by a thread to win in a 92-88 Game 1 Garden thriller over the resilient Raptors.
So as the Knicks made a first-round statement with Sprewell and Co. cutting Carter down to size, they also missed a chance to shatter the Raptors’ confidence altogether.
It was almost as if the Knicks’ ferocious first quarter, during which they led 27-9 in the final minute, went to waste.
If not for Larry Johnson’s 3-point dagger from the right wing with 42.8 seconds remaining and Chris Childs pouncing on the floor for a loose-ball rebound with 13.3 seconds left and knocking down two mammoth free throws moments later, the Knicks could well be starting at a 0-1 deficit.
In fact, the ending was so sweaty Jeff Van Gundy took off his jacket in the final minute after a Sprewell flagrant foul on Carter could have cost them the game.
And the Knicks know that Carter, perhaps now over his playoff-debut jitters, is not going 3-for-20 in Game 2 Wednesday.
“I thought the first quarter [intensity] was high but after that we had lapses and letdowns and we can’t do that,” said Johnson, who had 15 points.
Sprewell, the defensive hero, is indeed expecting a different Carter in Game 2, one who won’t miss his first 12 shots and wait until 10:40 remaining before sinking his first field goal.
During the first three quarters, Carter, who finished with 16 points in making nine free throws, pouted on the bench as if his puppy just died.
“That’s not going to hurt his confidence, trust me,” Sprewell said. “If anything, the guy is so ready to play another game.”
Carter must wait until Wednesday to redeem himself as the Knicks get two days to savor this. And savor it they will after being smacked around in three straight regular-season games by the Raptors, torched by Carter, who averaged 33 points on 60 percent shooting during the four-game season series.
“I thought we did a very good job of withstanding their comeback” said Patrick Ewing, who had a quiet day before coming up big in the final two minutes with a pair of free throws, a runner in the lane and the kickout pass on Johnson’s three.
Ewing finished with 15 points with Sprewell and Allan Houston each hit for 21.
In each regular-season game vs. the Raptors, the Knicks were bludgeoned in the first quarter, allowing an average of 29 points. Yesterday, the Raptors managed a dozen points, falling behind 27-12 after shooting 3 of 20.
But with some unlikely offensive contributors like Charles Oakley and Kevin Willis, the Raptors fought back.
Carter’s pull-up 18-footer from the right wing with 10:40 left in the fourth – his first – got Toronto within 71-66. Then Carter hit another jumper from the left corner with 10:00 remaining to make it 71-68.
Toronto finally tied it at 81 with 2:25 remaining when Carter drained a 3-pointer.
Ewing then emerged. He got to the line for two free throws to make it 85-83 with 2:06 left and broke another tie when he sank one from the lane. But McGrady’s two free throws tied it at 85 with 1:02 to go.
That’s when the ball went into the low post for Ewing, who was double-teamed and expertly whipped it back to the top of the key to Sprewell. Sprewell swung it to the right for Johnson beyond the arc and he nailed it to break the tie.
The Knicks weren’t in the clear yet as Sprewell was called for a controversial flagrant on Carter, who on a rare burst blew by Sprewell. From behind, Sprewell grabbed his jersey with two hands and yanked him down, with Carter’s back pounding hard against the floor with 39.9 seconds remaining.
“I didn’t think it was a flagrant,” Sprewell said. “It probably looked a lot worse than it really was.”
Carter missed 1 of the 2 free throws but Toronto still had possession, down two. McGrady missed an open left baseline jumper. Doug Christie, on the follow, missed a short jumper. Childs then crashed to the floor on top of the ball and called time with 13.3 seconds to go.
“When the ball’s on the ground, it’s my ball,” said Childs, who was later fouled and hit both free throws to put the Knicks up four with 12.5 seconds remaining.
It was Childs’ ball and the Knicks’ game. But they’re not done with Carter’s Raptors yet.