Jazz 108
Knicks 87
The Spree-less portion of the Knicks’ schedule is now over, and it was a disaster. When Latrell Sprewell returns Saturday, the Knicks may not get any better, but they can’t get any worse than last night’s humiliating 108-87 loss to the Jazz that has stamped them the laughingstocks of the NBA.
Memphis fired coach Sidney Lowe yesterday after an 0-8 start, but knowing James Dolan, the Knicks’ Don Chaney may be in store for another contract extension. Following, by far, their most disgraceful showing of the season, the Knicks dropped to 1-7, the worst record in the East, second-worst in the league, good things if you’re thinking lottery ping-pong balls and LeBron James.
At least we know center Michael Doleac won’t be their savior, his Knicks debut lasting nine uneventful minutes. Allan Houston decided to suit up despite his sore foot and probably wished he didn’t, shooting 4-for-15.
The Garden boos reached their crescendo after Shandon Anderson clanked a right-corner 3-pointer and the Jazz beat the Knicks upcourt on a fastbreak, finished by a Andre Kirilenko layup to jack the lead to 30 points, 80-50, late in the third.
It was a night the Antonio McDyess trade couldn’t have looked worse. McDyess hobbled out to halfcourt to give out an award, then retreated to the players’ lounge where he’s spent most of the home games. Meanwhile, Mark Jackson, whom the Knicks packaged in the trade, looked hungry and in great shape, schooling Knicks rookie point guard Frank Williams, whose struggles continued.
The Knicks played their worst half of the season, falling behind 48-30 at intermission.
Jackson, the Jazz’ backup point guard, looked 25 years old again, and the Knicks made Greg Ostertag look like Bill Russell with 10 first-half boards.
Jackson played the final 18 minutes of the half and the entire second quarter when the Jazz bludgeoned the Knicks 26-12. Jackson whipped the ball around the perimeter with no-look passes and flung the ball inside for inside baskets by Ostertag, Matt Harpring and Kirilenko.
Clearly motivated by the sight of Williams, the Knicks’ first-round pick, Jackson drove at will on him. Williams was forced into major minutes because of Charlie Ward’s injury and Howard Eisley’s foul trouble. Eisley picked up his third foul with 6:00 left in the half.
Jax had six points, five assists and three rebounds, leading Utah’s surge. Late in the second, he led a fastbreak and emphatically whipped the ball with a no-look feed to DeShawn Stevenson, who popped in a top-of-the-key jumper that drove the lead to 43-26 with 3:20 left. On another throwback moment, Jackson was double-teamed along the right baseline and threaded a pass underneath for a Kirilenko layup.
Houston elected to play despite a strained arch in his foot.
“It’s good enough,” Houston said before the game. “I’m definitely going to start. If I’m out there not hurting the team, I want to play. I got three days [off] to get it up to speed.”
In the opening few minutes, he couldn’t keep up with Jazz shooting guard Calbert Cheaney, who scored Utah’s first six points. On Utah’s first possession, Cheaney slipped free for an offensive putback, setting the tone for the ugly first half. Houston shot 3 of 11 in the half.
Williams was wretched, missing all three of his shots and notching one assist in 11 minutes.
He shot an airball with one second left in the half as the fans booed the Knicks off the court.
Doleac won’t be remembering his debut. In five minutes in the first half, he missed both his jumpers, the first off a pick-and-pop that freed him for a wide-open attempt he clanked. Doleac scored one point, shooting in the technical foul shot given on a 3-second violation drawn by Lee Nailon. Doleac had one rebound in five minutes and was beaten to the boards by Ostertag for an offensive rebound putback.