How often can a player score 22 points in the fourth quarter and his team still loses?
Only the Knicks.
Not even a 22-point fourth-quarter explosion by “Krypto-Nate” could save the Knicks last night against Orlando. But maybe it will win Nate Robinson the starting shooting guard job.
Facing his Slam Dunk competition rival Dwight Howard, the 5-foot-7½ Robinson accounted for 22 of the Knicks’ 29 points in the fourth quarter. But because the soft Knick defense couldn’t make a fourth-quarter stop, they wound up losers again, 114-102, at the Garden to fall to 3-14, their fifth straight defeat. The Knicks are 1-8 at the Garden.
“We have a record we’re very ashamed of,” Al Harrington said. “Every loss hurts right now.”
Howard, known as “Superman,” knows what it’s like to be beaten by Robinson, who dethroned him in the Slam-Dunk competition last February. Robinson had just 2 points entering the final period.
“He was on fire — there was nothing we could do,” Howard said. “If they had five more minutes, he would have had 50 points and they would have won the game.”
Actually, Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy wasn’t worried about Robinson’s spree.
“There were some things we could’ve done differently, but because we were able to score on the other end I didn’t have to worry about it,” Van Gundy said.
Howard wouldn’t let the Magic lose because unlike All-Star Weekend, this counts. Howard finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds (five offensive) and two blocks. He shot 8 of 9 from the field, but couldn’t hit his free throws (8 of 15). The Knicks have no interior presence and were without Eddy Curry for the third straight game.
“Dwight is a beast,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “With these guys, we had to be on all our cylinders. They don’t go to The Finals for no reason.”
Meanwhile, starting guard Larry Hughes had an atrocious game (1 of 9) and Robinson is knocking on the door to a promotion.
“I think we’re improved,” said Robinson. “We haven’t gotten the [wins] to show for it.”
For D’Antoni and some others, not getting blown out seems the standard now for the Knicks, not actually winning, especially when facing the defending Eastern Conference champions.
Returning home from their winless Western swing, D’Antoni knew the Knicks could get “embarrassed.” Despite their massive hole in the middle, the Knicks didn’t get embarrassed, mostly because of Robinson’s giant fourth quarter.
“I feel the team could hold up its head,” David Lee said.
Orlando shot 59 percent in the final quarter in racking up 32 points.
“Fourth quarter, we got to buckle down, dig in our heels and say, ‘Enough is enough,’ ” said Harrington, who was in foul trouble and scored just nine points after netting 41 Friday.
The Knicks were competitive to the final buzzer against the powerhouse Nuggets Friday, but gave up 128 points. They’ve allowed an average 120 points the past two games and ever since D’Antoni lectured the media on the team’s statistical defensive improvements.
The Knicks are midway through a murderous five-game stretch. Their next three games are against D’Antoni’s former team, Phoenix (14-3), tomorrow, a rematch vs. Orlando Wednesday, and in Atlanta vs. the Hawks Friday. The good news is the Knicks are not the Nets.