Bloody Mess

New York Post:January 26, 2006 — Knicks president Isiah Thomas was in his normal spot in the tunnel. Owner James Dolan was in his seat behind the baseline, by the Knick bench, next to Garden president Steve Mills.

It seemed like just another Garden night, but it was anything but.

The Knicks tried to put the smile back on their president’s face, but they got hurt by a final-second call in regulation, made a dumb foul late in overtime and were outlasted 106-102 by Sacramento at the Garden last night.

The Knicks dropped their sixth straight game, falling to a despicable 13-27 nearly halfway through the season. For the first time, Thomas’ job status is an issue.

Stephon Marbury, in his return, scored 22 points but got a fat lip on a controversial foul in the last second of regulation and then made an ill-advised intentional foul in OT. He also threw up a wild airball in the final minute of overtime.

With the backdrop of Thomas facing a sexual harassment lawsuit looming heavily, forgive 65-year-old Larry Brown for being confused amid this season’s dysfunction and scandal.

In overtime, with 30.1 seconds left, the Knicks cut it to three points, 99-96, on a Marbury layup. Instead of trying to get one stop, Marbury intentionally fouled Kevin Martin.

However, afterward, Brown disputed the circumstances of the Marbury foul with The Post during his press conference.

“We were down four,” Brown said. “I thought we were down four. I don’t think that’s accurate. Down three with 30 seconds to go, I would never tell them to foul.”

Well, they did. Martin hit both free throws and the Kings survived the subsequent free-throw shooting contest, hitting seven of their last eight, including four straight in the final 10 seconds by Mike Bibby, who finished with 35 points.

It never would have gotten to overtime if the Knicks could’ve made one last defensive stand in the fourth quarter. Trailing by one point, Sacramento center Brad Miller (25 points) drove left down the lane, then cut right, crashing into Marbury, who went flying, absorbing a bloody lip.

The referees called a blocking foul with 1.3 seconds left and Miller went to the line with a chance to win it. Brown thought it should’ve been a no-call.

Marbury thought it should’ve been a charge.

“Normally, that’s how the game is called in your building,” Marbury said. “It could’ve gone either way. The refs are human.”

Brown thought it could’ve been a no-call.

“There was a no-call when Jamal [Crawford] went to the goal [on the prior possession],” Brown said. “Those things happen when things are going bad.”

Miller missed the first foul shot, the ball going in and out as the fans were on their feet making a din, keeping the Knicks in front. The second attempt, with the noise at a crescendo, bounced off the front rim but rolled forward and through. Miller rolled his eyes in relief, as the score was knotted at 89.

Marbury had a good look on a last-second desperation 19-footer from the left side, but it rimmed out.

“I got off a great shot, it just went in and out,” Marbury said.

The Kings were without their new addition Ron Artest, their old star, Peja Stojakovic, and their shooting guard Bonzi Wells.