Just over a year removed from tearing his ACL in the 2012 NBA Playoffs, Knicks small forward Iman Shumpert looks like he may have regained his explosiveness. The 22-year-old rose high and threw down a ferocious tomahawk slam in Game 2 of the Knicks-Pacers series.
Chris Copeland got an open look on the left wing but missed the shot off the back of the rim. With four Pacers rooted in the paint, Shumpert soared to grab the ball. The 6'6" sophomore leaped into the air, caught the ball with one hand and threw down an emphatic dunk. Knicks fans went into a frenzy as the home team took an 11-point lead early in the second quarter.
"I think I was trying to make a statement," said Shumpert after the game. "I just wanted to win this game real bad. We needed this game."
Shumpert finished with 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting from the field and six rebounds as the Knicks won Game 2, 105-79.
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