CHICAGO, (Reuters) – The New York Knicks got off to a flying start and maintained their advantage with some accurate shooting from three point-range as they cruised to a 120-112 win over the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Toney Douglas led the Knicks with 30 points off the bench, including five three pointers, while Danilo Gallinari scored 24 points, including 21 in the first half.
“Tonight was a great, great indication of how good we can play and that we also have room to improve,” said forward Amar’e Stoudemire, who had a relatively quiet night with 14 points and eight rebounds.
Raymond Felton pitched in with a double-double, scoring 20 points and making 10 assists.
The Knicks (2-2) stormed to a 70-52 halftime lead and finished the game with impressive 16-of-24 shooting from three-point range, including 10-of-15 in the second half.
“We are looking for this,” Gallinari said. “That’s our game. That’s how we’re going to play.”
Derrick Rose led the Bulls (2-2) with 24 points while Joakim Noah had his fourth consecutive double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. Taj Gibson also had a double-double for Chicago with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
The Bulls tightened up their play defensively after subbing in their second unit and pulled to within eight points of the Knicks early in the fourth quarter but were unable to get any closer.
“We had gone with the starters a little longer than usual to start the second half,” Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said.
“When we got down 19, that’s when I subbed them. The second unit was closing a lot harder to the three-point line.
The way their guards were shooting, we needed their energy.”
