Lee makes triumphant return as Warriors beat Knicks
Golden State Warriors' David Lee, center, protects the ball from New York Knicks' Wilson Chandler, left, and Danilo Gallinari, right, during the first half. (Nov. 10, 2010) Credit: AP
In the end, it was like a mini-referendum.
The Knicks got rid of David Lee this past summer so they could get Amar'e Stoudemire and start to rebuild. Both players seemed to know that all eyes would be on them last night at the Garden as Knicks fans got to see both their future and their past on the same court.
For now, things seem to be working out better for Lee than for Stoudemire as the former Knick scored a season-high 28 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in leading the Warriors to a 122-117 win over the Knicks.
Stoudemire had his best game as a Knick, but his 33 points weren't enough to save them from their third straight loss.
Stoudemire missed two free throws in the final minute but hit a three-point shot that narrowed the Warriors' lead to 118-117 with 14.4 seconds left. That, however, would be the Knicks' final score. After they were forced to foul Monta Ellis and he made both free throws, the Knicks needed a three-pointer to tie the game.
"We were trying to spread the floor and catch them by surprise and Amar'e was going to be the guy, but it ended up being a bit of a Hail Mary," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said.
It was Wilson Chandler, who finished with 27 points but had a tooth knocked out, took and missed the final shot with 3.9 seconds left. Lee, appropriately, ended up with the rebound, his 10th, to put the game away.
It was a tough loss for the Knicks (3-5), who trailed by 19 points in the third quarter but clawed their way back into the game. What was perhaps the toughest thing about the game was that Stoudemire, who had 13 points in the final quarter, seemed to be out there almost alone at times and had to create his own scoring opportunities.
"I have to watch the film to figure out how the game was played," Stoudemire said when asked if he was happy with the way the offense had flowed. "I was just taking what the defense gave me, just playing and letting the game come to me."
Lee averaged double-doubles in three of his five seasons with the Knicks, becoming a fan favorite, and averaged a career-high 20.2 points last season. He received a standing ovation and was honored in a video tribute.
"It was very emotional," he said. "I had calmed down during intros and then after the video I got all riled up again . . . I was just really proud our team tonight."
Golden State (6-2) is off to its best start in 16 years. Stoudemire's Knicks are only modestly improved from this time last season.
The game came on the heels of a 27-point loss to the Bucks in Milwaukee Tuesday night. The loss was so ugly that D'Antoni announced a shake-up in his starting lineup.
D'Antoni started Chandler at power forward, moved Stoudemire to center and sent Timofey Mozgov, who had been starting at center, to the bench. Chandler responded with a pretty big night, though he did get his tooth inadvertently knocked out by Lee's elbow in the third quarter.
"Our offense has been stagnant," D'Antoni said in explaining the changes. "We've been having bad, lopsided first quarters, so hopefully a little change of personnel will help."
One gets the feeling that there will be more tinkering to come.
