Melee caps Knicks' letdown loss; Amar'e hurt
New York Knicks Landry Fields, left, and Shawne Williams (3) scuffle with Atlanta Hawks' Marvin Williams (24) in the fourth quarter. (Jan. 28, 2011) Credit: AP
ATLANTA - A frustrating night for the Knicks turned ugly in the fourth quarter when Shawne Williams and the Hawks' Marvin Williams turned a simple trip down the court into a pushing, shoving and ultimately punch-throwing melee.
It turned even uglier Friday night when Amar'e Stoudemire limped to his locker after receiving treatment on his right knee following the Knicks' 111-102 loss at Philips Arena and said he was "not sure'' if he will be able to play Sunday against Detroit.
Stoudemire was injured when a fallen Marvin Williams rolled over his knee from behind with about nine minutes to go in the third quarter during a scrum for a loose ball. Play continued around Stoudemire, a pair of possessions with nine players running up and down the court.
The Knicks finally called time and Stoudemire slowly got up. He showed a bit of a limp and more than a bit of a scowl, but he stayed in the game and finished with 27 points in 31:56. "I didn't know what happened," he said. "I was facing the opposite way. He just rolled on it by accident, I guess. I don't know. But it definitely didn't feel good."
For Stoudemire, who always plays hurt, saying he was unsure about playing in the next game was a rare admission of the amount of soreness and stiffness he was feeling.
"We'll see how it feels [Saturday],'' he said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to go Sunday."
If Stoudemire can't play, the Knicks could be down three players. Shawne Williams was starting for Wilson Chandler, who is day-to-day with a strained left calf. And both Williamses face automatic suspensions of at least one game if the league determines they threw punches.
Marvin Williams clearly did. The Knicks said Shawne Williams didn't, that he only cocked his fist. But replays indicated Shawne Williams attempted to throw a punch and stopped it short because other players got in his way and kept his arm from extending fully.
"I feel like I didn't swing back," Shawne Williams said. "I feel like I restrained myself. I feel like I was really just protecting myself. Of course any person would be worried , but I have full confidence in the replay and they could see I really didn't throw no punches or nothing like that, that I think."
Both Williamses were ejected. Marvin Williams was assessed an extra technical for starting the fracas with 43.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
Marvin Williams gave Shawne Williams a shove in the back as the two ran upcourt after a possession. Shawne Williams responded by turning around and getting in Marvin Williams' face.
After another shove from Marvin Williams, both players cocked their fists. The NBA will determine who threw a punch and who didn't. Stoudemire and other players got between them and no punches seemed to connect.
Marvin Williams immediately was rushed to the locker room by Hawks personnel as he continued to yell and point at Shawne Williams. Marvin Williams did not speak with reporters after the game.
Said Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni: "It's an emotional game and regrettable and the league will sort it out."
Before the fight, the Knicks already were ticked off with the Hawks, especially Al Horford, for mugging to the sellout crowd. "I don't know what Horford's thinking," Stoudemire said. "He needs to calm down. He's not that type of player. You don't want to see that on any night. So he might as well relax and calm down."
The Knicks were getting blown out when Stoudemire went down. They rallied in the fourth, but not far enough. It was a predictable happenstance after Thursday night's emotional win over the Heat.
The Hawks took a double-digit lead early in the second quarter and led by as many as 24 in the third. "We came out soft and paid for it," D'Antoni said.
After Stoudemire went down and got up, the Knicks rallied with a 14-2 run late in the third; Stoudemire scored nine in a row at one point. But the Hawks still led by 15 at the end of the quarter and Stoudemire started the fourth on the bench.
The Knicks got as close as five with just over four minutes to go in the fourth when Stoudemire stroked a jumper. But a three-pointer from Josh Smith restored the Hawks' mojo and the Knicks were not able to recover.
Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 34 points. Smith added 24. Raymond Felton had 21 points and 13 assists for the Knicks.
