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NEW York coach Mike Woodson gambled and lost when he tinkered with his line-up before Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semi final against Indiana so today he tried something old ... and new.

Woodson went back to guard Pablo Prigioni and his small starting lineup but he added Chris Copeland to the mix off the bench.

It was a good move, Copeland providing energy, adding 13 points to four boards and two steals in 19:25 of action.

Before Lanard Copeland could even say: "That's my boy," the Knicks had beaten Indiana 85-75, cutting the deficit to 2-3, Game 6 back in Indianapolis on Sunday.

Copeland, 29 and an NBA rookie who is a Euroleague vet, basically ate up minutes that probably would have gone to Amar'e Stoudemire under normal circumstances.

But with the Knicks facing elimination at Madison Square Garden, it was time to try something bold, especially after Copes drained two triples in 12 minutes of the Game 4 loss.

"Chris Copeland will play early tonight," Woodson said pre-game. "He was in that second unit in the second game. We're going to go back to some of that and see how it works."

Copeland started the second quarter, was active at both ends and buried a triple for a 32-23 Knicks lead, their biggest to that point.

Some unusual officiating saw Tyson Chandler wracking up too many fouls, followed by Pacers centre Roy Hibbert doing the same. Tit for tat?

Carmelo Anthony's 28 points led New York, J.R. Smith also with 13.

Paul George had 23 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Pacers, who were minus guard George Hill. He suffered a concussion as the upshot of Indiana's Game 4 win.