Bulls 102
Knicks 85
CHICAGO – At least Stephon Marbury took a shot. Actually 13 of them. Marbury just couldn’t hit any after the first two minutes.
With David Lee and rookie Renaldo Balkman in the starting lineup, the Knicks needed a big scoring night from Marbury, who tried but ultimately failed to deliver. The Knicks were crunched by the Bulls in a 31-17 fourth quarter, losing 102-85 at United Center, dropping them to 5-11.
Marbury – shotless, scoreless and clueless Saturday leading to a second-half benching – had a bounce to his step but his shots were bricks. Marbury made just two of 13 attempts. He connected on his first two shots but missed his next 11. Marbury also committed five turnovers – three during the dreadful fourth-quarter collapse.
Marbury desperately has wanted to assert himself into Isiah Thomas’ balanced-scoring offensive scheme, and he got the coach’s blessing last night.
Ex-Bull Eddy Curry was dominant inside with 24 points and eight rebounds, but they needed Marbury to complete the 1-2 punch.
“Tough night,” Marbury said. “Tough shooting night. I still got to continue to be aggressive. I just got to get into a groove. I haven’t been playing like that, so I got to get my rhythm back. I know where my shots are going to come from. I felt more comfortable tonight.”
Marbury’s attack mode last night demonstrated just how much of a tortured soul he was Saturday when he never even looked at the basket and may have pulled a Kobe in not taking a shot.
“I just tried to get myself in the flow,” said Marbury, who averages 8.4 shots per game. “Eventually I’ll get into the flow, continue to be aggressive and my shots will [fall]. I haven’t been shooting the ball. My mother told me if you don’t use it, you lose it.”
The Knicks committed 22 turnovers, with Lee and Balkman combining for nine. Lee has 13 turnovers in his last two games, showing the more minutes doesn’t mean merrier. Balkman, making his first career start, had six points, five rebounds in 23 minutes. Lee had 14 points and 11 boards in 35 minutes.
It all fell apart in the final six minutes. Trailing 82-78, the Knicks were outscored 20-7 the rest of the way. Marbury made a bounce pass to Curry that was intercepted with 6:02 left. Then Jamal Crawford broke in on a fastbreak and was called for a questionable charge.
Marbury missed badly from the left wing and Curry committed a traveling, falling on his rump after backing in. A tip-in by P.J. Brown (15 points) put the Bulls up 90-80 with 3:55 left for the clincher.
Marbury took his first shot 51 seconds into the game, and made it – a 22-footer from the left side. On the next possession, Marbury ripped to the basket for a runner.
One of Marbury’s adjustments has been Thomas’ usual hook at around the 3:30 mark of the first quarter. In the past, Marbury had played the entire first quarter and into the second. That’s what happened last night. Thomas let him play the entire first period, and Marbury didn’t come out until 10:07 left in the second.
Thomas still talks about having Marbury score in spurts – a confusing concept.
“It is tough,” Marbury said. “But it’s something being asked. It’s an adjustment. We had three guards out there. I’m used to having the ball a lot.”
Knick killer Ben Gordon, a Westchester native, singed the Knicks again for 23 points. Chris Duhon’s 3-pointer in the final seconds put the fans in a tizzy as they broke 100 points, and the free Big Mac promotion kicked in.
“We unraveled,” Thomas said. “We were definitely right there with five minutes left. Then you got to score the basketball. We had scorers on the floor – Crawford, Marbury, Francis. Their guards did a better job.”
