Knicks 92

Nets 84

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – As Jamal Crawford came out with 1:58 left to complete his Knicks debut, he got a bear hug from Knicks coach Lenny Wilkens.

The Knicks’ key offseason addition showed last night in their exhibition opener that the Garden is going to be a more exciting place this season just by his presence.

Last night’s debut was way off Broadway, here in rural Pennsylvania, where Crawford ignited a 19-0 run to start the fourth quarter as the Knicks beat the Knicks 92-84 at Wachovia Arena.

Crawford, who finished with a team-high 19 points, six assists, two steals and seven rebounds, won’t get a chance to electrify the Garden until tomorrow when the Spurs come to town, but it’s safe to say he is going to be one of the most entertaining guards the Knicks have ever had.

“The ceiling’s the limit for his talent,” Wilkens said.

Even Allan Houston, sitting on the bench in a brown suit, admitted as much. Crawford started at shooting guard and it’s going to be difficult for Wilkens to remove Crawford once Houston gets healthy.

“Just watching him in practice, he’s better than we all thought,” Houston said. “Everybody in the Garden will have fun watching him play.”

Crawford is like a kid in a candy store.

“I definitely had butterflies to put on the New York uniform but once the game started they all went away,” Crawford said.

Wilkens decided to play Crawford the whole fourth quarter, giving Stephon Marbury a rest. Crawford’s presence alone jolts the Knicks with an up-tempo spirit. Isiah Thomas must’ve been thrilled, though he was not at the arena, choosing to watch on TV.

Their monster fourth-quarter run – the Nets didn’t score until 3:11 left – was sparked by Crawford and the all-court rookie gazelle Trevor Ariza, who’s a whiz on the fastbreak.

“I provide energy,” Crawford said. “If guys feed off it, great. That’s what they’re doing. Energy is contagious. I’ll continue to provide positive energy and guys can get into it.”

Ariza had plenty of fastbreak opportunities and he makes a nice fit. As with any rookie, he blew a few. But Ariza, a second-round pick, finished with 12 points, getting to the line eight times, making six free throws.

“He’s going to make those [layups],” Wilkens said. “The thing is, getting the opportunity to get them. If you don’t get [the opportunities], it makes the game harder.”

Ariza made one of the biggest baskets in the fourth when he stole a pass at midcourt and went in alone for a highlight-reel reverse dunk to give the Knicks a 78-74 lead. The Knicks trailed 74-63 after three quarters before massacring the Nets.

Crawford made his first shot as a Knick – a 3-pointer from up top – in the opening minute. He tried to put the final flourish to his night when he did a between-the-legs crossover at the perimeter to create space at the 3-point line. He fired and the ball spun in and out. Crawford was taken out moments later and the entire Knick bench was up on its feet, giddy and laughing, to greet Crawford.

Crawford does it all, rebounds, defends, finds guys on the break, shoots threes. But Wilkens is most concerned with his shot selection, as he took a couple of ill-advised bombs early in the shot clock.

“I just want him to be smart and take good shots,” Wilkens said. “He took a couple of bad shots and I let him know it because he’s that good that you don’t need those kind of shots. No one does when you’re playing well.”

But in the end, Wilkens was thrilled.

“I’m not surprised. That’s why I was pretty excited about him,” the coach said.