After waiting nearly two years, Antonio McDyess is expected to return to a regular-season game when the Knicks play host to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
Making his way through a five-on-five scrimmage Sunday, he ran smoothly, leaped in traffic for rebounds and dropped in enough silky jump shots to remind his teammates of the player he was before a procession of knee injuries. After surviving a soaring leap nearly into the exercise equipment lining the court and a hip check by Keith Van Horn that sent him out of bounds, he saw no reason to delay his return.
McDyess, a power forward, will wait for one more test, working out at the morning shootaround before meeting with coach Don Chaney to sort out a plan of minutes and expectations.
McDyess preached patience.
“I don’t want to set my standards of how it used to be when I played two years ago,” he said Sunday. “I want to go out and make myself the new Antonio of today. After two surgeries, I don’t think I’ll ever be the Antonio of two years ago. I’m not saying that’s bad or good.”
Youth gone wild
LeBron James, 18, became the youngest player in NBA history to score 30 or more points in a game with his 33-point effort in the Cavaliers’ 122-115 double-overtime loss to Memphis on Saturday night. Kobe Bryant was 19 when he reached 30 for the Lakers in 1997.
Speaking
“I can’t be afraid to take it. That’s the way I’ve played all my life. If I miss it, I fail. If I make it, I help the team, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Warriors guard Nick Van Exel, on his game-winning three-pointer with 20 seconds left in Golden State’s 91-89 win over San Antonio on Saturday night.
RESULTS, SUNDAY’S SYNOPSIS
New Jersey 92 at Sacramento 105
Peja Stojakovic scored 25 points and Brad Miller had 20 and 11 rebounds as Kings won 8th straight overall, 17th in a row at home and 24th straight vs. Eastern Conference teams.
Indiana 77 at L.A. Lakers 99
Shaquille O’Neal scored 23 points and Karl Malone had 11 and 15 rebounds as Lakers won 25th straight regular-season home game. Pacers fell to 7-1 on road. Both teams are 14-3.
