Knicks gets even as Anthony scores 32 against Pacers

CARMELO ANTHONY scored 32 points, 16 during a 30-2 New York onslaught in the second half, as the Knicks beat the visiting Indiana Pacers, 105-79, last night to even their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals at one game apiece.

Iman Shumpert added 15 points and Raymond Felton scored 14 as the Knicks turned a close game into a blowout over the final 15 minutes.

Paul George scored 20 points for the Pacers, who had a two-point lead and momentum when coach Frank Vogel called timeout with a little more than 3 minutes left in the third quarter. The Knicks then outscored the Pacers 10-2 and led 72-66 at the end of the quarter.

The Knicks began the fourth quarter by scoring 20 unanswered points to go ahead, 92-66. By the time the Pacers finally scored, there was only 4:48 left in the game. Indiana was outscored 33-13 in the final quarter.

Game 3 is Saturday at Indianapolis.

David West scored 13 points for the Pacers, who committed 21 turnovers that led to 32 points.

Former NBA coach Phil Jackson turned down an opportunity to coach the Brooklyn Nets after meeting with general manager Billy King, according to a report.

Yahoo Sports, citing a league source, reported Jackson would prefer to run the front office of a team.

The Nets parted ways with interim coach P.J. Carlesimo on Sunday, a day after they lost Game 7 of their first-round playoff series to Chicago. Carlesimo went 35-19 during the regular season after replacing Avery Johnson, who was fired in December.

* The Phoenix Suns hired Ryan McDonough as their new general manager.

He replaces Lance Blanks, who was fired on April 22 after failing to make the playoffs the past three seasons. The 33-year-old McDonough spent the previous 10 seasons with the Boston Celtics, including the past three as assistant general manager.

In other Suns news, Scottsdale, Ariz., police are investigating forward Michael Beasley in connection with an alleged sexual assault.

Police spokesman Officer David Pubins said the allegation involves an incident that took place on Jan. 13. Pubins says police are interviewing those involved and processing any physical evidence to determine if criminal charges are appropriate.

Team officials did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment. It wasn't clear if Beasley had legal representation.

* It's unlikely that Chicago's Luol Deng and Kirk Hinrich will play when the Bulls try to take a 2-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Heat in Miami tonight.

Deng has spent parts of the last 6 days in a hospital dealing with aftereffects of a spinal tap he had to test for spinal meningitis. Hinrich said the calf injury that has kept him out of the last four games hasn't changed.

* Former Sixers forward Charles Barkley, appearing on the Dan Patrick Radio Show, said that, "Everybody played with a gay teammate . . . And it's no big deal."

Barkley made his remarks when the subject of Jason Collins came up. Last week, Collins became the first active player in one of the four major sports to come out as gay.

While he didn't identify anyone, Barkley said he played with gay teammates in the NBA.

"I had several teammates," he said. "I probably had three guys I played with in my 16 years."