Thomas plays the hero role
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The nicked-up Knicks are 2-0 against the Pacers
with Patrick Ewing out and not a lot from Marcus Camby.
Kurt Thomas, one of the team's least likely heroes, is a big
reason why.
|  | | Kurt Thomas scores over the Pacers' Dale Davis on Monday. |
New York was in dire need of an inside presence against a much
larger Indiana team in Monday's Game 4 of the Eastern Conference
finals. Thomas came through with a playoff career-high 16 points,
plus five rebounds and three assists as the Knicks won 91-89 to even
the best-of-seven series.
"Kurt did a good job giving us some additional points that we
needed today, and he got on the boards," Knicks coach Jeff Van
Gundy said.
Thomas was part of a whole fleet of Knicks who stepped into the
void left by injuries to Ewing, Camby and Latrell Sprewell, who
played with a broken bone in his foot and scored only 12 points.
Larry Johnson led the team with 25 points, while Charlie Ward
had a second straight strong game, with 16 points, seven assists
and six rebounds.
"This team just shows tremendous heart and ability to step up
and make big plays," Thomas said. "When Jeff calls our number
we're ready."
Thomas has wondered aloud why he doesn't get to play more
minutes, and circumstance finally gave him a chance. He played 35
minutes Monday, 21 above his average during this postseason.
"I'm ready every game. I prepare to play 30 minutes," Thomas
said. "If I play six, I just have to keep my head up and keep
playing."
Van Gundy said he's seen a different Thomas this series.
"I think he went through a period of adjustment when he wasn't
playing as much," the coach said. "I thought going into Game 7
(of the second round against Miami), he came in with a better
mental approach to that game and it has carried on forward from
there."
New York lost the first two games in Indianapolis and things
looked bleak when Ewing went out early in Game 2 with tendinitis in
his right foot, the injury that kept him out of Games 3 and 4.
Camby sprained his knee in the second quarter of Game 3, didn't
return to that contest, and had just five points while playing 18
minutes Monday.
With Chris Dudley a complete non-factor -- he started at Ewing's
center slot and finished the day with five fouls and no points --
Thomas had to be the answer in Game 4 and he did not disappoint at
either end of the court.
The 6-foot-9 Thomas gives away seven inches to Pacers center Rik
Smits, but he compensated with muscle mass and slick footwork.
Thomas helped hold Smits to 13 points and one measly rebound.
"He defended Smits as well as you can at 6-8," Van Gundy said,
stealing an inch from Thomas' listed height.
At the other end, Thomas looked nothing like a player who was
averaging 3.4 points and 2.9 rebounds through the first 13 playoff
games. He scored with jumpers and inside moves, looking as
comfortable fitting into a suddenly flowing offense as he normally
looks uncomfortable on the bench.
Thomas' biggest contribution, though, might have been thanks to
one of his missed shots, which came with 6:28 left in the game and
Indiana -- which trailed by 17 points at halftime -- suddenly within
a point after Reggie Miller's 3-pointer.
Camby snuck inside to grab the rebound and kicked a pass out to
Johnson, who buried one of his five 3-pointers to make the score
80-76, and Indiana never got closer than that again.
Thomas ran down the court, hopping like a little kid.
"I was just a little excited, a little pumped up," he said.
"I was just really enjoying being out there on the floor."
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