By Olivia Scheck
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — With their backs against the wall, the injury-plagued Knicks will need the city's support if they're to prevail against the Celtics in a do-or-die Game 3 Friday night.
The orange and blue found themselves on the wrong side of two heartbreaking games in Boston earlier in the series, and now they're headed back to Madison Square Garden with two of their stars potentially sidelined by injuries.
Only Carmelo Anthony, the season savior acquired in a mid-season trade, remained healthy, with Amar'e Stoudemire and Chauncey Billups listed as "questionable," as of Thursday.
But don't count the Knicks out yet. Anthony nearly beat the Celtics single-handedly in Game 2, leading his team in rebounds, assists and scoring with a whopping 42 points.
For those who didn't get a ticket to the sold-out game and still want to (hopefully) see Anthony lead the underdog Knicks to a miraculous home court victory, DNAinfo has compiled a list of the best Manhattan bars to cheer them on.
Standings Bar (East Village)
43 E 7th St. (between Second Avenue & Taras Shevchenko Place) (212) 420-0671
Head to Standings Bar in the East Village to bond with your Knicks brethren while talking trash to Celtics fans. To loosen the vocal cords, try a 72-ounce pitcher of American microbrew for just $20. But don't worry about screaming over music — the Standings management promises nothing but the sweet sounds of a Knicks victory blasting from the bar speakers. To sweeten the pot, the bar will be serving up FREE pizza at 8 p.m.
Village Pourhouse (Upper West Side, East Village, Midtown)
982 Amsterdam Ave., 64 3rd Ave., 366 West 46th St. (212) 979-BEER
Pay only $5 for "Carmelo Car Bombs" and "Stoudemire Stouts" at any of the Village Pourhouse's three Manhattan locations. With more than 20 HDTV's and projectors at each location, you won't have any trouble catching a view of the game. Check out their Midtown location to be within striking distance of the Garden revelry, or stop by their Upper West Side location for a younger, Columbia-heavy crowd.
Blarney Rock Pub (Midtown)
137 W. 33rd St. (212) 947-0825
In the shadow of Madison Square Garden, the Blarney Rock Pub is about as close as you can get to the action without having to mortgage your house to afford a beer. In fact, you'll only have to part with $4 for 20 ounces of domestic brew during happy hour, which starts at 5 p.m. and lasts until an hour after the final buzzer. Plus, you'll be in prime position to celebrate a Knicks win with the post-game crowd as they flow out of the Garden.
Brother Jimmy's (Murray Hill, Union Square, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown)
428 Amsterdam Ave., 1485 Second Ave., 416 Eighth Ave., 181 Lexington Ave., 116 East 16th St. (212) 288-0999
If standard pub food just won't do, check out one of the many Brother Jimmy's BBQ joints throughout the borough. You can munch on a Blackened Catfish Po' Boy while watching Melo slam on Boston's best. Show up early to take advantage of Friday happy hour, which features half price appetizers, $2 frozen margaritas and 16 ounces of Natty Light for just $3.75.
Blondies Sports Bar (Upper West Side)
212 W. 79th St. (between Broadway and Amsterdam) (212) 362-4360
For a die-hard Knicks crowd and chicken wings available by the hundred, Upper West Siders know to go to Blondies. With 32 screens, including two big screen projectors, the popular sports bar is sure to be packed with enthusiastic fans.
