Tyson Chandler should have been smiling from ear to ear in the locker room yesterday after his Knicks whipped his former team, the Mavericks, justifying his decision to leave Dallas. But he was in too much pain.
Chandler took two tumbles in the 104-97 Garden matinee win, and was in discomfort, nursing two sore wrists and a sore tailbone. Chandler acknowledged he was questionable for tonight’s game against the Nets, though X-rays on his wrists were negative. A Knicks official said Chandler will be reevaluated before tonight’s game.
“This is the worst I felt all season,’’ said Chandler, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds and shot 5-of-7 as he continues to lead the NBA in field-goal percentage (70.5). “I had a rough night. I came down awkwardly. You always know more in the morning.”
Chandler took a charge in the second quarter and fell on his hands. In the second half, he got thrown down on his back by Lamar Odom.
Chandler, the defensive anchor at center during the Mavericks’ title run last season, finally got to say a brief hello before the game to Dallas owner Mark Cuban, who never spoke to him after the lockout ended. According to Chandler, Cuban emailed him after he landed with the Knicks in mid-December, but they never spoke.
The Mavericks reportedly offered Chandler a one-year deal for $20 million.
“It wasn’t that [high], but I wasn’t taking one year,’’ said Chandler, who inked a four-year, $58 million deal with the Knicks in a sign-and-trade.
Cuban isn’t regretting anything. He still has visions of adding Dwight Howard and Deron Williams with his cap space this summer.
“It was very hard,’’ Cuban said. “We love TC. We wouldn’t have been champions without Tyson. He’s just a phenomenal player, he’s got incredible heart, he’s amazing in the locker room. But the CBA changed everything.’’
Cuban said he didn’t think Chandler’s absence would sink Dallas’ defensive prowess.
“Not any one guy makes you a great defensive team,’’ Cuban said.
* Jeremy Lin was asked about the racial slur that appeared in a headline on ESPN.com’s mobile site after the Knicks’ loss to the Hornets Friday. The website apologized and yesterday fired the person responsible.
“ESPN has apologized and I don’t think it was on purpose or whatever,’’ Lin said. “From my end I don’t care anymore. You have to learn to forgive.’’
Lin was more concerned about media in Taiwan leaving his relatives alone.
“They can’t even go to work without being bombarded and following them,’’ Lin said. “I just want people to respect their privacy.’’
* Point guard Baron Davis, who has not played this season because of a herniated disk, dressed for the first time but did not play. Coach Mike D’Antoni said Davis would be limited to garbage-time minutes in the three games remaining before the All-Star break.