The NBA Playoff Standings shifted after Tuesday's results. The New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies took Game 2 and tied their series 1-1. The standings are now even and awaiting for the Miami Heat and the Golden State Warriors to do the same on Wednesday before the NBA playoffs take a break on Thursday.
The Knicks truly got Carmelo Anthony-like performance in Game 2 as he dropped 32 points on an efficient shooting night sinking 13-26 from the floor. Like Anthony, the Knicks almost hit 50 percent of their shots in Game 2, making it almost impossible for the Indiana Pacers to keep up with their scoring.
The Pacers led 64-62 after cutting into a Knicks' double-digit lead, however, the Knicks closed out the quarter on a 10-2 run and the Pacers wouldn't score again until after half of the fourth quarter was over. The final score was 105-79. Raymond Felton, Iman Shumpert and Pablo Prigioni finished the game with 39 points. Kenyon Martin added 10 of his own and his pressure was felt in the paint as he finished with two blocks in the game. Quentin Richardson game in to play the final 4:55 and he joined the three-point party hitting two as soon as he stepped on the floor.
The Knicks hit 10 threes while committing only seven turnovers. The Pacers had 21 turnovers in the game and allowed the Knicks to grab 13 offensive boards. Game 3 is on Saturday as the series will take place in Indiana.
Over in Oklahoma City, the Thunder relinquished home field advantage as the Grizzlies battled until the end in this one guided by Michael Conley who scored 26 points and was constantly hitting shots to keep the Grizz in the game. Conley gave the Grizzlies the permanent lead with a three pointer as this one went down to the wire. He followed that shot with a jumper putting the Grizzlies up by four with just a minute remaining in the game.
For the Thunder, it was too big of a lead to overcome as Kevin Durant couldn't supply another magical score late in the game. The final score between the Grizzlies and Thunder in Game 2 was 99-93. The Thunder couldn't get enough support from anybody not named Durant or Derek Fisher. The old man came off the bench and scored 19 points as he tried his best to give the Thunder a 2-0 lead in the series.
Now, the series shifts to Memphis where the Grizzlies have yet to lose a game. The Thunder will need guys like Serge Ibaka and Thabo Sefolosha to step up on the offensive end. Though the Grizzlies have a bunch of no names as they lack a true superstar, they are finding a way to give the defending Western Conference Champs a run for their money in the second round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs.
Here's what the standings look like after the first three days of the second round of the postseason:
Miami Heat 0-1 Chicago Bulls
New York Knicks 1-1 Indiana Pacers
Oklahoma City Thunder 1-1 Memphis Grizzlies
San Antonio Spurs 1-0 Golden State Warriors
The Bulls and Spurs have a chance to take a 2-0 lead in this series. However, expect LeBron James to come out with urgency and lock this one away early. The Warriors might be completely done though they are saying they will bounce back from blowing a 16-point lead in the fourth quarter. No lead will be safe for these guys from now on. Game 2 of these series will be Wednesday.
