Allan Houston said he wasn’t angry. But he was clearly disappointed.
And that disappointment almost is certain to rise after Isiah Thomas admitted Houston’s chances of making the team are poor.
Asked if “slim” would be a good way to describe Houston’s chances, Thomas responded, “I would say that’s accurate.”
Houston, seeking a comeback with the Knicks after a two-year retirement with an arthritic knee, was benched for the Knicks’ 110-94 loss to the Nets in the Meadowlands last night.
Thomas cited a back-to-back scenario. Houston struggled through six minutes Wednesday.
“This is their call,” said Houston, who had narrowed his choices to the Knicks and Nets but lost the Net opportunity when roster spots filled while he waited for his wife to give birth. “I’m not angry. After sitting out [two] years I don’t really look at back-to-back, practice days or what we’re doing.”
Thomas noted, “Unfortunately, the part of the business we’re in you really do have to break a lot of hearts and crush a lot of dreams.”
Stephon Marbury joined Houston on the bench. Thomas wanted to see different combos. He started Jamal Crawford at point guard.
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Nenad Krstic (11 points) started and played his first game since tearing his ACL last December. He shot 5-of-5, including a 3-pointer and scored on Nets’ first offensive play. He played 15:32, all in first half.
Richard Jefferson scored 25 and Vince Carter had 22 . . . Bostjan Nachbar (neck) sat with sore and stiff neck for Nets . . . Nets had 14 steals.
Knick center Jerome James and Thomas both confirmed James needs surgery on his left knee.