ATLANTA — Roger Mason Jr. was so buried, the Garden fans giddily chanted his name late in Wednesday’s blowout win over New Orleans during garbage time. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni summoned him to play out the final minutes.
Last night, with the Knicks desperate and decimated, D’Antoni summoned the veteran guard for prime time — and he delivered.
Mason, who hasn’t been in the rotation since the opening week, delivered a season-high 25 minutes, five key fourth-quarter points and gritty defense, including two blocks in the Knicks’ 92-79 victory over Atlanta.
The Knicks were missing starting point guard Chauncey Billups (thigh), reserve swingman Billy Walker (knee) and center Ronny Turiaf (knee). D’Antoni said afterward that Mason has earned more time, starting tonight vs. Utah at the Garden.
“I just kept working every day,” said Mason, the former Spur signed as a free agent.
“We have a lot of talented guys. I just tried to keep myself prepared, kept my mind at ease. [But] it hasn’t been easy.”
In December, Mason complained to The Post he felt D’Antoni never gave him the chance that was promised. Now with the rotation in chaos after the blockbuster trade two weeks ago, Mason is in the mix.
No pity chants tonight.
“It was cool,” Mason said of the fans. “I hadn’t played in a while. They were calling for me. It was fun.”
* Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said some of his players cried after losing to the Bulls yesterday.
“I’ve been crying, I don’t know about anyone else,” D’Antoni cracked.
With the Miami “Dream Team” suffering another demoralizing last-second loss yesterday, D’Antoni admitted to a parallel situation between the Knicks and Heat.
If the season ended today, they would match up in the first round (No. 6 vs. No. 3).
“To a certain degree,” said D’Antoni. “It’s not a criticism, but the reality is, teams need time to come together, and they need to go through tough times. It’s how you go through the tough times and how you come out of it on the other side.
“For us right now, it’s a tough time. We got to go through this and get to the other side, and Miami is the same way.”
* The University of Tennessee honored its all-time scoring leader, Allan Houston, by retiring his No. 20 yesterday.
The Knicks have not retired Houston’s No. 20, though two weeks ago he was named the Player of the Decade for the 2000’s and received a ring.
Houston is the team’s assistant GM, rumored to one day replace Donnie Walsh.