Knicks suffer defensive letdown in loss to 76ers
New York Knicks' Wilson Chandler (21) gets a pass off in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in front of Philadelphia 76ers' Thaddeus Young (21) at Madison Square Garden. (Nov. 7, 2010) Credit: AP
Celebrations of a great Knicks defensive revival are a bit premature. They were picked apart Sunday by the 76ers in a 106-96 loss at the Garden that squelched some early optimism and left the team frustrated.
"Frustrated in a sense that we know we're better than that," Ronny Turiaf said.
The Knicks had trouble stopping Elton Brand (20 points) and the 76ers, who entered the game with four losses in their first five games of the season. Amar'e Stoudemire had 21 points and 15 rebounds for the Knicks (3-3), who blew an opportunity to move to two games over .500 for the first time since Nov. 16, 2008.
Both teams were in a foul mood for this matinee - each shot 35 free throws - but it was a stretch in the third quarter, in which the Knicks put the 76ers on the line five times in seven possessions, that served as a momentum-killer. The Knicks had built a 69-60 lead with 6:12 left in the quarter, but the Sixers used the easy points from the line - they hit 10 of 11 - to generate a 20-9 run that provided an 80-78 lead.
"The biggest thing that stands out in the third quarter was that we fouled them every time," Mike D'Antoni said. "We had mental lapses. We left our feet."
During that span, Lou Williams drew two fouls against rookie Landry Fields on long jumpers, one a three-pointer. "He got me," Fields said through gritted teeth. "Nothing I can do about it."
Williams finished with 19 points, going 12-for-14 from the free-throw line, and fellow point guard Jrue Holiday also had 19 points, including a backbreaking three-pointer with 3:28 left in regulation that gave the 76ers a 98-94 lead.
Holiday had a wide-open look because Toney Douglas, who struggled with foul trouble throughout the game, slid under a screen, something the tenacious defender hardly ever does. Douglas said having five fouls was a factor in his decision to go under, but "regardless," he added, "that was a dagger."
Douglas had 17 points off the bench but shot 5-for-13. Raymond Felton (seven points) missed nine of 11 shots from the field but did have a third straight 10-assist game.
Sixers rookie Evan Turner, in his first NBA start, had 14 points and 10 rebounds. He stepped into the starting five because Andre Iguodala was out with a strained Achilles tendon.
Stoudemire provided great energy midway through the fourth to give the Knicks their final lead. He hustled for a rebound and fed Danilo Gallinari for a three-pointer, came up with a steal and finished on the fast break for a three-point play to give the Knicks a 92-90 lead with 6:46 left. He then forced a turnover by Turner and later tipped in Gallinari's miss to make it 94-93 with 4:26 left.
But Tony Battie nailed an open jumper to put the 76ers ahead 95-94 and then, after Douglas missed a runner, Holiday hit the big three that locked it up for Philadelphia. The 76ers scored nine straight points for a 102-94 lead as the Knicks managed only two points in the final four minutes.
"We've got to figure out what the plan is down the stretch," Stoudemire said.
The Knicks struggled on defense early and fell behind by 10 points twice in the first half, including a 49-39 deficit late in the second quarter.
"No knock to them," Felton said, "but this was a game we should have won."
