David Lee has been around long enough to know it was coming. Minutes after his first career triple-double and the first of its kind in over 30 years, there was already a question of its authenticity. The final assist, which locked up a statistically dominant performance of 37 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists, went to Danilo Gallinari with 1:28 left. Gallo took one dribble and scored on a four-foot floater.

But was that truly an assist? Remember, the NBA took away a triple-double from LeBron James on Feb. 4 last season when video review showed he was incorrectly credited with a 10th rebound in the final seconds of the game.

"I think [Gallinari] just took one dribble, so I think it should be an assist," Lee said. "But I'm sure we'll find some controversy. LeBron Triple Double, Part II."

We do take the fun out of it sometimes. But then again, losing 128-117 to the Golden State Warriors already should have taken the starch out of a 30-20-10 performance that has never been done in Knicks history and hasn't happened in the NBA since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it against the Warriors (not coached by Don Nelson, however) on March 5, 1976.

It was the 81st triple-double in Knicks history and the first since Latrel Sprewell recorded one Feb. 28, 2003 in double-overtime against the Orlando Magic.

"It should have been a 40-20-10 triple-double if I would have hit a couple of jump shots down the stretch," Lee said. "Once again, I wish it would have come in a win so I could be a little more excited about this."

It is tough to savor an individual performance when you're 0-4 on a five-game road trip.

* * * 

* - The Warriors are certainly great for your stat sheet. Gallinari almost had a triple-double of his own (29 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists). Imagine two teammates recording a triple-double each in the same game. Now imagine it happening in a loss.

* - Tracy McGrady played just 13:54 and missed the second half with swelling in his surgically-repaired knee. After the game McGrady didn't give any sense he was alarmed by the inflamation and said he will get treatment and see how it feels for Sunday's game against the Clippers, the final game of this very long road trip.

 

SUBSCRIBE

Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months

ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME