New York Knicks: 20 greatest performances at Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 24: (NEW YORK DAILIES OUT) Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks acknowledges the crowd as he leaves a game against the Charlotte Bobcats after scoring his team record 62nd point at Madison Square Garden on January 24, 2014 in New York City. The Knicks defeated the Bobcats 125-96. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

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New York Knicks Patrick Ewing (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

10. Patrick Ewing, 50 points and 15 rebounds: Dec. 1, 1990

Patrick Ewing’s Basketball Hall of Fame career with the Knicks watched him dominate the late 1980s and most of the 1990s. Behind elite play at the center position, he led the team to two NBA Finals appearances in 1994 and 1999.

In the midst of this, Ewing had standout games for the Knicks, particularly in front of the Madison Square Garden crowd. One of his best was on Dec. 1, 1990, against the original Charlotte Hornets.

The future Georgetown Hoyas head coach had a ridiculously efficient game of 22-for-31 shooting for 50 points, 15 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks to lead New York to a 113-96 victory.

Charles Oakley added 14 points and 15 rebounds and Gerald Wilkens had 20 points and 7 assists off the bench. So no, it wasn’t just a game-carrying performance by the half-century man, either.

A few months later, Ewing scored 51 points, but in a losing effort to the Boston Celtics. So the 50-point outcome takes precedence, even against a down Hornets team.

It was a landmark performance for Ewing at age 28 in his prime. He finished the 1990-91 season with 26.6 points per game, which became the second-highest mark of his 17 NBA years, and led by those 50-point nights.

A spectacular line for Ewing, it placed him just outside the top-10. Who’s ahead of him?