After an embarrassing drubbing by LeBron James and his scary facemask on national television Saturday, the Knicks ended a 4-game skid and returned to the .500 mark with a 113-105 victory over the Portland Trailblazers on Sunday. While Gothamist isn't sure if Portland fans came en masse to the Garden wearing plaid shirts, 70's Brawny paper towel guy hair, and mustaches, we'd certainly like to think this was the case.
The shooting was the story, as the team shot an amazing 59% for the game. The Knicks raced to a double digit lead at halftime, and despite a decent rally from the Blazers in the second half, the Knicks continued to hit shots and never trailed in the second half. Allan Houston led the team with 25 points, and Stephon Marbury continued to put up hot numbers with 20 points and 12 assists. The best number of all was the offensive balance, as seven Knicks finished in double figures. On the losing side, Zach Randolph led the Blazers with 27, while Coney Island legend (and Starbury cousin) Sebastian Telfair make his MSG debut with 2 points and 7 assists.
Next up at MSG are Byron Scott and the hapless New Orleans Hornets, winners of only 2 games (!!) to date this season due mostly to an incredibly unlucky string of injuries. The Knicks have no excuse not to notch a "W" on Tuesday. And for some hilarious Stephon vs. NY Post's Peter Vecsey, read Vecsey's Sunday column: "On second thought, not only isn't Marbury Brooklyn's best point guard (it's Jamaal Tinsley), but he's not even the best point guard from Brooklyn on the Knicks' bench; take a bow, Lenny, while there's still time."
Photo by the AP; Entry by Tom Thornton
