Loss dampens Lee's 37-20-10 triple-double, but NBA validates feat

LOS ANGELES - Usually this would be the type of boxscore a player would take with him as a personal keepsake, a tangible memory of one of the greatest statistical nights a player could ever have.

The 37 points, 20 rebounds and 10 assists that David Lee recorded Friday night against the Warriors was the NBA's first 30-20-10 triple-double since March 5, 1976, when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 35, 20 and 12 against the Warriors.

Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird never achieved the feat in their Hall of Fame careers. A 30-20-10 triple-double had never occurred in the 63 previous seasons of Knicks basketball.

But how could Lee savor his accomplishment when it came in a 128-117 loss to a 22-win Warriors team that is among the worst defensive teams in the league? How could he be proud of something that immediately had an asterisk because of skepticism about the validity of his 10th assist, which was recorded with 1:28 left in a game in which the Knicks were trailing by 12?

"I think he just took one dribble, so I think it should be an assist," Lee said of the play, which involved Danilo Gallinari catching the ball on a post-up, dribbling once and spinning for a 4-foot jumper. "But I'm sure we'll find some controversy: 'LeBron Triple-Double, Part II.' "

Lee was referring to the Feb. 4, 2009 game at the Garden in which James scored 52 points and had a triple-double that was taken away by the NBA the next day when a review revealed he was improperly credited with his 10th rebound with 39.3 seconds left in a Cavaliers win. The NBA reviewed the tape of Friday's game Saturday and said last night it will not make any changes, so Lee's triple-double stands. But he still was disturbed by something he has faced constantly in his five seasons with the Knicks.

"Another loss, another lost season, you're not a handsome guy, your luck's down, your girlfriend hates you," Lee said in a mocking ramble as reporters asked him about the questionable assist. "Come on, man."

That type of cloud has remained over this team even in the new era under Donnie Walsh and Mike D'Antoni; the hope is that more than $30 million in cap space finally will clear it away with legitimate, cohesive talent. The question that remains is whether Lee, a free agent this summer, will be part of it.

"From what I've heard, it's equally as fun to win in New York as it is miserable to lose," he said. "It's something that's important."

But how important is it to the Knicks to keep Lee, their most talented homegrown player? In the attempt to lure James, Lee - despite being an All-Star and one of only three players in the NBA this season to post 20-10 averages (20.3 points and 11.9 rebounds per game) - isn't viewed as being as much of an attraction as, say, Chris Bosh (who, by the way, is another 20-10 guy at 24.0 points and 10.9 rebounds) or Amar'e Stoudemire.

Then there's the money factor, because Lee should get interest from other teams around the league and might not be able to afford to wait on the Knicks.

"There's a million different scenarios,'' he said, "and almost all of them involve what LeBron and those guys are going to do."

Notes & quotes: Tracy McGrady said he had swelling in his surgically repaired left knee after soreness caused him to sit out the second half of Friday's game. He wasn't overly concerned about it and is probable for tonight's game against the Clippers.

The Dolan family owns a con- trolling interest in the Knicks and is owner of MSG and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday.