Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks drives around Tyler Hansbrough #50 of the Indiana Pacers during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2013 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2013 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The Indiana Pacers defeated the New York Knicks 102-95. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP
NEW YORK— David West scored 20 points as the visiting Indiana Pacers rallied from a first-quarter deficit to beat the New York Knicks 102-95 in game one of their NBA second round playoff series on Sunday.
All five starters finished in double figures for the Pacers, who played physical but kept their composure to bring back memories of the Indiana teams of the 1990s that battled hard against their New York Eastern Conference rivals.
“We did a good job of taking advantage of our shots and finishing around the rim,” said power forward West of the Pacers, who outrebounded the Knicks 44-30.
The Pacers squared off against the Knicks three consecutive years beginning with the 1993 post-season then again between 1998-2000.
Center Roy Hibbert finished with 14 points, eight rebounds and five blocks in the best-of-seven series.
Paul George had 19 points and D.J. Augustin scored 16 points in just under 13 minutes of playing time for the Pacers, who knocked off the Atlanta Hawks in six games in the first round.
Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks in scoring but shot just 10-of-28 from the field. He finished with 27 points and 11 rebounds for New York, who are in the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2000.
That season, New York reached the NBA semi-finals before losing to the Pacers in six games.
The Knicks led 27-22 heading into the second quarter but saw that lead disappear in the second as the Pacers seized a 52-46 point lead at halftime.
New York, which shot just 35-of-81 (43.2 percent) from the field, will also host game two on Tuesday with game three set for Saturday in Indiana.