The Knicks’ 106-104 loss last night ended with Al Harrington sprawled on the Garden floor and splayed over Toronto’s Jarrett Jack as an official called a charge. It was a fitting end to Harrington’s night, because the gimpy forward missed shot after shot, hobbled by a left knee so sore he is going for an MRI exam today.
With the Knicks inbounding with seven seconds left, the final play was intended to go to Nate Robinson. But Jack denied Robinson, and when a frantic Danilo Gallinari tossed the ball to Harrington and the gimpy forward tried to drive, Jack stepped up and drew the charge with eight seconds remaining.
“I was just the last resort,” Harrington said. “I got it and my leg came out and I didn’t have any brakes, so I couldn’t stop. I just tried to make a play and got called for a charge.”
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Harrington scored 20 points, but shot 5-for-16, committed an absurd shooting foul on Hedo Turkoglu three feet behind the arc with 1:39 left and had a shot blocked with 58.9 seconds on the clock. He was the last Knick to emerge in the locker room, gimping like a man twice his age.
“It’s been bothering me a lot,” Harrington said. “But I’m going to the doctor to get a treatment process done that I hope is going to make me feel better.
“It’s been bothering me for six weeks. It’s been awhile, a long time. But I was trying to hide it, just keep playing through it. Usually I just play through it, a little treatment here and there, play through it. But this is more than that. I’m going to go get an MRI and let the guys tell me the options.”
Rest won’t be one of those, with the Knicks struggling and teetering on the periphery of the playoff race and facing back-to-back games at Washington and Minnesota tomorrow and Sunday.
“I don’t want to rest; I want to keep fighting with these guys no matter what,” Harrington said. “If I can walk I can play. I’m just going to get treatment and be ready to lace them up coming down to Washington.”