OKLAHOMA CITY — David Lee found out in Houston what it is like to receive All-Star treatment.
After his 20-point explosion in the first half in Houston on Saturday, in which he scored on an array of mid-range jumpers, turnarounds and driving layups, the Rockets keyed their defense to stop Lee.
In the second half, Lee was held to six points. The extra attention is something new to Lee, who’s in the All-Star conversation after scoring 20-plus points for the 17th time — two times more than all last season. Lee is averaging a team-leading 19.1.
“In the third quarter, when I got it at the top, they were packing the paint in,” Lee told The Post. “Their wings and guards were helping a lot. I’ll know how to handle it better next time. It is different for me. I got to get more used to what to do when teams do double and teams are helping. It’s all an adjustment.”
Lee is having trouble feeling too good about his basketball as he deals with a personal crisis off the court.
Lee’s 92-year-old grandfather is on his deathbed and the forward may have to leave the team any day.
Lee’s grandfather, E. Desmond Lee, made a fortune in coat hangers and became a well-known St. Louis philanthropist, donating $50 million to various charities in the city.
* Al Harrington said he expects to return tonight after a two-game absence. The Knicks missed his scoring in the second half of Saturday’s loss in Houston, when they blew a 13-point lead late in the second quarter.
* Nate Robinson’s return from his 14-game banishment has hit a pothole. Robinson has committed 11 turnovers in the past two games, but coach Mike D’Antoni is sticking with him because his defense has been decent.
“I’m hoping he hasn’t played for a month, he’s pressing a bit,” D’Antoni said. “We’ll try to cut that down. He still can be one of our better defenders. He has that ability. On offense he needs to be Nate. On defense he needs to be Knicks.”
* Though Jonathan Bender had three blocks in Houston, his offense has disappeared since the first two games of his comeback and he’s shooting 35.7 percent.
“He has moments when he’s really good,” D’Antoni said. “But sometimes he doesn’t know whether to go 1-on 1. We need to get him integrated into what we do. We really wanted him here in September and October and we could’ve gotten him through that.”