@
Friday, Jan 13th
7:30pm
vs. Hawks
TV: NBALP, MSG
Radio: ESPN 1050
Knicks eye sixth consecutive win
Preview:The New York Knicks will have a great chance to produce their best winning streak in five seasons Friday when they host the Atlanta Hawks, the only team in the NBA yet to reach 10 victories.
The coming of the new year seems to have changed the fate of the Knicks, who have recovered from a dismal 7-21 start to win their first five games of 2006, four coming at Madison Square Garden.
Stephon Marbury has been the catalyst through much of the run, including Wednesday, when he scored 28 points and had six assists in a 117-115 overtime victory against Dallas.
New York held an 18-point lead before halftime and carried an 11-point advantage into the fourth quarter before surviving to record its first five-game run in nearly two years.
Antonio Davis had four points and three rebounds in overtime and Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry combined for 46 overall for the Knicks, who held a 54-37 rebounding advantage.
After a rare two-game winning streak of their own, the Hawks have dropped two in a row, the first a tight one at home and the second an embarrassing rout on the road.
Royal Ivey led Atlanta with a paltry 11 points in Wednesday's 103-72 loss at Washington. Al Harrington was the only other Hawk in double figures with 10 points.
Atlanta was outrebounded, 52-31, and committed 23 turnovers.
In the midst of a seven-game skid in December, New York dropped a 122-111 decision in Atlanta. Joe Johnson scored 36 points and Harrington 35 for the Hawks.
FINAL SCORE
Knicks - 105
Hawks - 94
Box Score
Knicks keep streaking as Brown notches 1,000th win
recap:The New York Knicks did something they had not done in five years to help Larry Brown do something done by only three others.
Jamal Crawford scored 23 points, Stephon Marbury had another strong floor game and Brown notched his 1,000th career victory as the Knicks posted a 105-94 victory over the Atlanta Hawks.
With the win, Brown joins Lenny Wilkens, Don Nelson and Pat Riley as coaches who have reached the milestone. All four coached the Knicks at one point in their illustrious careers.
Now it is Brown in charge of the Knicks. His tenure began in rocky fashion as New York struggled to a 7-21 start, the coach constantly tinkered with his rotation and the players struggled to adjust to his style.
However, the start of 2006 has been the beginning of a new season for the Knicks, who are 6-0 in the new year for their first six-game win streak since a seven-game run from December 22, 2000-January 7, 2001.
Marbury and Crawford have been catalysts for New York's recent surge and once again were instrumental Friday. Crawford was 8-of-14 from the field for his 11th 20-point game off the bench this season. Marbury finished with 18 points, nine assists and four steals.
With the game tied at 84-84 early in the fourth quarter, the Knicks went on a 12-2 run capped by a jumper by rookie David Lee to make it 96-86 with 3:59 to play. Marbury iced the game with a steal and three-point play on the ensuing possession.
The only man back on a 3-on-1 fast break for the Hawks, Marbury stole an ill-advised behind-the-back pass by Josh Smith. On the other end, Marbury came off a screen at the top of the key, got to the basket and scored as he was fouled by Smith. He made the free throw for a 103-92 lead with just under two minutes to play.
Joe Johnson scored 19 points and Al Harrington and Zaza Pachulia added 18 each for Atlanta (9-25), which is the only team in the NBA yet to reach 10 victories.
