MEMPHIS - The New York Knicks built a 19-point lead over the Memphis
Grizzlies, blew it, then needed three overtimes to finish them off. Is
this
the kind of "evident progress" Knicks owner James Dolan had in mind?
Quentin Richardson hit two free throws with 12 seconds left in the third
overtime as the Knicks outlasted the Grizzlies 118-117 Wednesday night in
their season opener.
After the overpriced group that Isiah Thomas spent three years putting
together went 23-59 last season, Dolan ordered his team president to take
over as coach, with a caveat: Show "evident progress," or lose both jobs.
Thomas seemed on his way to an easy win in his debut before the Knicks
fell
apart in the fourth quarter.
Richardson led the Knicks with 31 points and Jamal Crawford had 21.
Stephon
Marbury had 19 and Eddy Curry had 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Richardson had 10 points in the overtimes, while Marbury had seven before
fouling out.
Chucky Atkins scored 10 of his 25 points in overtime for the Grizzlies.
Memphis got 22 points and 12 rebounds from Hakim Warrick and 21 points
from
rookie Rudy Gray. Mike Miller had 18 points.
With the Knicks up 108-106, Atkins sent the game into the third overtime
with a driving layup with 28 seconds left in the second extra period.
The Grizzlies missed five of eight free throws in the closing 1:40 of the
first overtime, with Miller missing two in the final seconds and Warrick
missing the first of two op****tunities. But Warrick hit his remaining free
throw with 4.9 seconds left to send the game into the second overtime tied
at 100.
Crawford got a shot off at the top of the key but it fell short.
Memphis came back from the fourth-quarter deficit to force the first
overtime when a 3-point attempt by Crawford bounced off the rim at the end
of regulation.
After trailing from the half, Memphis took an 89-88 lead with just over a
minute to play in regulation on a steal and layup by Gay. Marbury tied the
score at 89, hitting the first of two free throws.
--
My only concern is should I hide my true identity? A costume maybe?
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