KNICKS 102

SIXERS 100

PHILADELPHIA – One thing at least has stayed the same from Larry Brown’s Knicks. The coach still wants the ball in Jamal Crawford’s hands in the dying seconds of a close game.

With the score tied, Crawford got the ball with 18 seconds left last night at Wachovia Center, dribbled down the clock at the top of the key, 1-on-1 against Sixers’ Andre Iguodola. Crawford faked a crossover and buried a high-arching 21-footer jumper to keep Isiah Thomas’ Knicks unbeaten in the preseason with a 102-100 victory.

Crawford scored 12 of his 21 points in the final five minutes. Eddy Curry, after a mediocre, foul-plagued opening night in Friday’s win over the Nets, pounded the Sixers inside for 25 points and 10 rebounds in 26 minutes.

However, Sixers center Samuel Dalembert, who gave Curry fits last season, did not play (hamstring). Chris Webber (flu) was also absent.

Still, the Knicks are 2-0 and the rap music blared louder than all last season.

“We want to treat it like the regular season,” Crawford said. “We had such a bad season last season we want to get things rolling early.” Last season, Crawford led the NBA with six game-winning shots in the final 10 seconds – the lone pearl found amidst the wreckage.

Crawford may not start this season (he did yesterday) but he will finish. “We definitely like him on the floor at the end of the game because he’s a shotmaker,” Thomas said. “He makes foul shots, creates his own shot.” “Fortunately for us we have three guys, [Crawford], Steph [Marbury] and Steve [Francis] at end-of-game situations I feel very confident to put the ball in any of their hands. A lot of times you might see all three of them together.” Crawford, though, is by far their clutches end-game shooter.

“I’ve always had that confidence.

Now it’s a little different because my teammates, Isiah all have confidence in me in those situations,” Crawford said. “I live for it. I wouldn’t want to sleep at night if I didn’t want to take that shot.” Thomas extended Curry by playing him the first 14 minutes. He came to the bench after racking up 16 points. “He was dominant and came out and planted himself in the middle and said ‘I’m here,'” Thomas said.

Meanwhile, Jalen Rose’s status continues to look shaky, with swingman Jared Jeffries, Quentin Richardson and rookie Renaldo Balkman all impressing. Thomas started Rose at small forward, but he played the first nine minutes, then sat the rest of the game after not taking a shot.

Thomas said he didn’t want to play Rose against the rookies.

Brown is living in Philly but did not attend the game. Maurice Cheeks has already gotten together with Brown, as he attended a Philly workout in September. Cheeks said Brown has an open invitation to attend practice and has already sought his counsel.

Cheeks, who was on Brown’s Philly staff as an assistant, was stunned how it played out in New York. Cheeks said, “Obviously, I’m surprised by the way things happened.

Larry’s one of the best coaches out there and I know he’ll land on his feet. It’s unfortunate but I know he’s going to land on his feet. And he’s still one of the best, coaches in our league. We’ve talked but we’ve just kind of talked on the surface about the things that I’m trying to do.”