Knicks shocked by Sixers at Garden and a fight vs. the Celtics
November 27, 1976
COLLINS SCORCHES KNICKS FOR 45; SIXERS SHOCK 'BOCKERS, 117-112
Doug Collins could not be stopped.
In a dazzling performance, the clean-cut Sixers shooting guard scored 45 points as his struggling team upset the league-best New York Knicks. Collins scored 25 of his 45 points in the second half with a variety of long-range shots, including several well beyond 25 feet. Every time the amazingly talented Knicks, led by Julius Erving's 31 points, attempted to take over the game, Collins had an answer to silence the sellout crowd at the Garden.
"Collins could not miss," said Knicks head coach Red Holzman. "Today we saw firsthand why he is an All-Star and why he was selected for the Olympic team as a collegian."
Holzman attempted several different defensive assignments on the enigmatic Brooklyn native. He initially placed starter Earl Monroe on Collins, but Collins used his quickness to penetrate into the lane on several occasions, distorting the Knicks' defensive shape and leading to easy dunks for Darryl Dawkins.
"When we put Earl on Collins, he had difficulty with keeping Doug in front of him," Holzman said.
The Pearl was benched for the quicker Ticky Burden. Collins changed his game plan.
"When Ticky came into the game, I knew I couldn't get into the lane as freely, so I switched to my more natural shooting game," Collins said.
Despite Burden's best efforts, Collins lit up the Garden. The Knicks, the favorites to win the NBA title, have had the answers almost all season, but tonight, there was nothing they could do.
"Collins was toasting and posting out there," Walt Frazier said disappointedly. "Sometimes, you run into a stupendous performance. Earl the Pearl will show Collins who is boss the next time we play."
Frazier suffered back spasms early in the first quarter and had to sit the rest of the game. His status for the big game on Saturday afternoon against the Celtics is uncertain.
"I'm getting toward that age where it's hard to scoop and hoop," said Frazier. "This might be my last shot at getting that third ring, and I'm going to take care of myself as best I can."
Philadelphia improved their record to 9-8, while the Knicks dropped to 15-3.
Later that afternoon, as the Knicks had a back-to-back...
On CBS, "Last Night" by the Mar-Keys plays in the background as Brent Musberger introduces the matchup.
BRENT: New York and Boston, two cities with an eternal rivalry. It does not matter what sport they play, they're always at each other's throats. In this case, the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics, arguably the two best teams in basketball, will be clashing this afternoon in a titanic matchup.
The war of words is especially fierce. Spencer Haywood vowed to stomp on the "little green leprechauns." In response, Celtics center Dave Cowens: "He'll see how little I am when he tries to get into the paint."
New York and Boston. Bad blood. Next on CBS...
Give it all you've got
Take your very best shot
And may the best team win.
The time is now, the name of the game is action.
We're on the floor and we're ready to score,
So let the game begin
And let's see how the ball's gonna bounce today...
Welcome to N-B-A,
Come on and join the rush of the crowd
It's another classic about to come your way...
You'll see the best in basketball,
When you watch the NBA,
When you watch the NBA on CBS...
BRENT: You are looking live at a fired-up Madison Square Garden. It's almost like a championship game in here, even though it's only Thanksgiving. Next to me is Mendy Rudolph, who used to be one of the great referees in NBA history.
MENDY: I haven't heard this place this loud since 1973. The Knicks fans are really fired up because the Celtics are in town.
BRENT: I think the fans have completely digested all their turkey over the holiday.
MENDY: Absolutely. Now about the matchup, we've heard a lot of talk between the two teams, especially between Haywood and Cowens. The referees will have to handle all the emotion in the building and the competitiveness of the two teams.
BRENT: The Celtics have what the Knicks want, and that is the NBA Championship. They are definitely not going to lie down for one of their fiercest rivals, even in a regular season game where the championship is not at stake.
MENDY: No way, this game is going to be very physical indeed. All games between these two teams are challenging for the officials.
BRENT: How will the injury to Clyde affect the Knicks?
MENDY: They'll use Butch Beard and Ticky Burden at the point in an effort to contain Jo-Jo.
We move to the second quarter, where the Knicks have a 45-42 lead with three minutes to play in the first half.
BRENT: Haywood receives it from Monroe in the high post. Wicks defending Spencer closely. Haywood drives to his left. Cowens is there to help but Haywood stuffs it!
Crowd explodes...
MENDY: Blocking foul on Cowens, that's his third. The Knicks have been very aggressive going after him in the paint.
BRENT: Haywood just gave Cowens a few choice words, and they're suddenly nose to nose!
MENDY: The officials have to take control of this now before a fight breaks out!
BRENT: Cowens tries to push him away, and Haywood swings at him! Here we go, Cowens and Haywood! They're wrestling wildly on the floor as both teams rush on the court to break them up.
MENDY: The officials will have to disqualify both Haywood and Cowens in order to prevent any secondary fights from breaking out.
BRENT: The Garden fans are throwing objects at the Celtics bench, this is a wild scene. The police have to restrain the Celtics from going after the fans.
We cut ahead to the fourth quarter, the game is tied at 103 with 40 seconds to play.
BRENT: This has been a back-and-forth game the entire way, with ejections, high-flying dunks, retaliatory fouls, you name it. The Knicks have the ball and Monroe takes the point against Jo-Jo. Monroe tries to penetrate, but he is cut off by McAdoo on the double-team. Monroe barely finds the Doctor, with Hondo stuck to him like glue.
MENDY: 10 on the shot clock, Julius will need to go soon.
BRENT: 24 seconds to play. The Doctor drives on Hondo. He's cut off by Wicks in the lane. The Doctor swoops around both, and lays it in! What a move by Julius as the crowd goes wild! Tommy Heinsohn has to call time out!
MENDY: I remember Baylor and Oscar, but I can't think of a guy as athletic as the Doctor when he decides to drive to the basket. What a move through two of the best defenders in the NBA.
BRENT: Heinsohn is diagramming the play and the Celtics break the huddle. There are 17 seconds to play, and Boston is out of time outs, so they have to get the ball in.
Hondo inbounds it to Jo-Jo. Jo-Jo versus the Pearl. The game is going to come down to these two legends. 10 seconds to play. Jo-Jo sizes up the Pearl, and begins his move. Seven on the clock. Jo-Jo drives by Monroe, goes for the layup, but he is stuffed by Moses! The ball goes out of bounds! Four seconds left on the clock.
MENDY: Boston still has possession because Malone touched it last before going out of bounds. I think they will have to look to Havlicek for a final shot.
BRENT: Hondo has bailed them out many times. Celtics ready to inbound. Gianelli guarding Charlie Scott, the inbounder. Scott gets it in to Hondo. Hondo has to fire quickly against the Doctor. He gets it off just in time, and it is in and out!
MENDY: Oh, I thought that was down!
BRENT: The Knicks win a classic, 105-103!
Here is Marv Albert's call of Erving's driving layup for the winning score. He is joined by Johnny Hoops, John Andariese.
MARV: Monroe dribbles against White. Monroe drives the lane, but cannot get by McAdoo. Monroe throws a desperate pass back to the Doctor that is almost stolen by Scott. The Doctor dribbles to the top of the key against Havlicek. The Doctor's got 10 seconds to work. Erving drives against Havlicek. He's cut off by Wicks. He glides around the basket, scoops the ball and hits the layup! YES! A SPECTACULAR MOVE BY JULIUS ERVING!
JOHN: That is some of the most remarkable athleticism I have ever seen on a basketball court.
MARV: The Doctor is making housecalls to all his fans as Tommy Heinsohn calls for time!