VAN EXEL CARRIES BOBCATS ON HIS BACK AS 'CATS WIN A NAILBITER TO EXTEND SERIES
GAME 3 (INTERVENTION GAME):
FINAL 1-3 4 OT Total
Bobcats 67 34 14 115
Knicks 78 23 12 113
GAME RECAP:
Intervening in the 4th quarter, the Bobcats were down by only 11pts 67-78, with an uphill battle of keeping the series alive. The top peformancers for the Bobcats in the 1st 3 quarters were Gilbert Arenas (17pts, 4rebs, 7asts, 3stls), Bobby Simmons (11pts, 5rebs, 3asts, 1stl), Emeka Okafor (8pts, 12rebs, 1ast, 2blks, 2stls) and Nick Van Exel (10pts). Stephon Marbury (22pts, 2rebs, 9asts, 2stls, 1blk) and Jamal Crawford (25pts, 3asts, 1stl) once again led the way for the Knicks.
The story of the 4th quarter had to be Bobcats' reserve Nick Van Exel, who seems to finally be earning his payday and living up to his big shot reputation. Early in the 4th, NVE scored 7 straight points to get the Bobcats within 3pts at 79-82. The Knicks countered with 6 straight points of their own to push the lead to 79-88, but took their knocks as Tim Thomas had to leave the game due to injury. Van Exel countered with another 3 to bring the score to 82-88. An Emeka Okafor foul meant he had 5 for the game, and he got sent to the bench, alongside Gilbert Arenas and Bobby Simmons, who also each had 5 fouls of their own. The score sat at 82-91 after the 3pt play was converted. A Van Exel 3, a Jaric steal and basket, and a Guy Dumars dunk capped a 7-0 run that brought the score to 89-91 with 4:06 left in the game. The Charlotte Bobcats were back in the game and possibly the series.

Van Exel (above left) caught fire early in the 4th and couldn't be stopped, whereas all was not smooth sailing for Tim Thomas (above right) who hurt himself early and had to leave the game. He would return later
Risking fouling them out, Bickerstaff sent Okafor, Arenas and Simmons back into the game for the game's closing minutes. Crawford immediately came out and buried a tough jumper, score 89-93. At the other end, an Emeka Okafor tip-dunk brought the crowd to its feet and the score to 91-93, and the Knicks called a timeout. On the ensuing possession, Okafor gave up his 6th and final foul and was done for the game. Marbury made 1 of 2, score 91-94. A G.A. layup at other end against JC pushed the 'Cats to within 1pt at 93-94. A Marbury miss at one end and a Nene dunk at the other end meant that Charlotte had taken the lead at 95-94 with about 2 minutes left. For the next minute, the score remained the same as both team's defenses stepped up bigtime.
Okafor grabbed the rock with one hand and threw down a nasty 2 handed dunk
Van Exel once again starred in the final minute as he drilled a clutch 3pter over Marbury to give the Bobcats a huge 4pt buffer and an 98-94 lead with 55.9 seconds remaining. After a few more misses, Kurt Thomas tipped in a stray Allan Houston 3pter to bring the score to 98-96 with 21.5 seconds remaining. Van Exel was fouled and made only 1 of 2, leaving the door open for the Knicks, 99-96. An Allan Houston jumper brought the Knicks to within 1pt at 99-98 with 10.3 seconds remaining. Ball was inbounded to G.A. who was fouled and made both of his free throws to bring the score to 101-98. With no timeouts remaining, the Knicks raced up court and found Jamal Crawford, who hit a seemingly impossible 3pter over Guy Dumars that rattle in and out and then in again to tie the game at 101-101 with only 0.4 seconds left on the clock. The Bobcats weren't able to get a shot off and the game was dramatically sent into OT.

Nick Van Quick (above left) had seemingly sealed the deal with another clutch trey, but the Knicks' Jamal Crawford (above right) had one last answer for NVE and the Bobcats that left the home crowd stunned
Van Exel had another spurt during OT as 2 straight 3pters put the Bobcats ahead 111-105. A Tim Thomas dunk and a Kurt Thomas FT pulled the score back to 111-108. Dunks by Bobby Simmons and Tim Thomas moved the score to 113-110. G.A. had a chance to seal it in the final minute but missed a contested layup, then grabbed the board and missed another contested layup. Heading back down the court, the Knicks setup a good look for Stephon Marbury, who with 18.0 seconds left, nailed a 3pter to tie the game at 113-113. After a Bobcats' timeout, Guy Dumars ended up with the ball and an opening to the hoop and he attacked it hard and made a hard dunk over the smaller Michael Sweetney to give the 'Cats a 115-113 lead. With no timeouts remaining and time to get one good look, the Knicks' Stephon Marbury had a great look at a 3pter to win the game. It looked good from Marbury's hands and a collective groan was put up by most in attendance. Fortunately, Marbury's shot was off as the attempt clanged off the front of the iron to give the Bobcats a 115-113 win.
"That Guy" with the game-winning dunk over undersized PF Michael Sweetney, who was trying to masquerade as a C after Woods fouled out
This win means that the Charlotte Bobcats now trail the best of 5 series 2-1, with Game 4 of the series being a simulated affair at home in Charlotte. Can the Bobcats build on this epic win or was this just a slight aberation in the Knicks' quest for a 2nd title in the past 3 seasons?
New York's bench (above) realise how close they were to sweeping the series, meanwhile the Bobcats (below) lapped up this sweet victory like a bunch of school kids
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
BOBCATS
N. Van Exel - 33pts (7/11 3pt), 3rebs, 2asts
(Player of the Game)
G. Arenas - 21pts, 7rebs, 10asts, 4stls
B. Simmons - 13pts, 8rebs, 5asts, 2stls
E. Okafor - 11pts, 17rebs, 1ast, 2blks, 2stls
G. Dumars - 11pts, 14rebs, 4asts, 2blks
KNICKS
J. Crawford - 32pts, 1reb, 4asts, 1stl
S. Marbury - 26pts, 5rebs, 11asts, 2stls, 1blk
T. Thomas - 15pts, 7rebs, 1ast
A. Houston - 15pts, 6rebs, 1ast, 1stl
ROUND 2, GAME 3 RESULTS:
WEST:
(4) Dallas 108 @ (8) LA Lakers 101 (Mavs win series 3-0)
[Seraph - 8pts, 1rebs, 2asts, still injured]
(6) Memphis 83 vs (2) San Antonio 76 (Grizzlies lead series 2-1)
EAST:
(1) Detroit 85 @ (4) Washington 80 (Pistons win series 3-0)
[Melo - 0pts]
(7) Charlotte 115 vs (3) New York 113 (OT) (Knicks lead series 2-1)
[The X - DNP - Coach's Decision]