The Cleveland Cavaliers went into yesterday game against the New York Knicks trying to complete a sweep of this 
year’s series while the Knicks had a different motivation; securing their first NBA Playoff spot since 2004.
“That was the goal we set at the start of the season. The plan was to make the playoffs,” Amare Stoudemire said after the game. “It’s mission accomplished and now on to the next one.”
Amare finished with 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field with Carmelo Anthony (25 points) and Chauncey Billups (23 points) also topping the 20-point plateau in the 123-107 win.
Going into this season, the Knicks were in the longest playoff drought in the NBA, tied with the Timberwolves. With the revamped roster that includes the acquisition of Melo and Billups, the team hopes to fair better than that last trip to the postseason in 2004 when they were swept by the New Jersey Nets.
Melo kepts his perfect streak alive having never missed a postseason in his career and went into the game on a three-game 30-point scoring streak.
The Cavs’ bombed this season after LeBron James packed up and left for South Beach but the one bright spot had been their play against New York. But even after getting 23 points from J.J. Hickson and 22 from Baron Davis, the team couldn’t overcome the 22 turnovers in this contest.
“I think the turnovers killed us,” said Davis.
Box score on NBA.com.
Used with permission of the author.
Jay Donetelli is a Tampa-based freelance sportswriter and contributor to Sports Climax. With an opinion sharper than an Ovechkin skate blade with the sting of an Ali jab, Donetelli has a loyal cult of readers who have found a way to love him.
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