Antonio McDyess grinned in embarrassment and blew a kiss to the crowd, his first point as a member of the New York Knicks finally on the board almost 14 months after he fractured his kneecap in an exhibition game.
McDyess’ point came from the foul line after he missed five field-goal attempts and a free throw, and he scored only one other point Monday night in a 79-78 overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons.
The former All-Star and Olympian, who played 13 minutes, was warmly received but played tentatively, showing plenty of rust.
“Playing, scoring, rebounding — that was bad,” McDyess said. “But physically I give myself an `A.’ I was doing things I felt I would never be able to do again: jumping, holding people, trying to go for dunks, trying to block shots, running up and down the court, sprinting. That felt good.”
Duncan suspended
The NBA suspended Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs, a two-time league MVP, for Monday’s game against the Clippers for pushing an official to the floor. He made contact with Jack Nies in the third quarter of the Spurs’ loss Saturday night to the Golden State Warriors.
RESULTS, MONDAY’S SYNOPSIS
Milwaukee 87 at Bulls 97 Complete coverage, Pages 1, 2, 4.
Memphis 96 at Boston 89
Pau Gasol scored 19 points, and Lorenzen Wright added 14 points and 13 rebounds to help the Grizzlies beat the Celtics for the first time since Nov. 26, 2000 (5 games).
Detroit 79 at New York 78
Pistons’ Mehmet Okur blocked Michael Doleac’s jumper just before final buzzer. Knicks scored only 9 points in 3rd quarter and 14 in 4th to fritter away a lead as large as 15.
New Jersey 84 at Utah 91
Andrei Kirilenko and DeShawn Stevenson scored 18 points apiece, and Jazz won 4th straight. Utah let 19-point lead dwindle to 3 late before sealing it with 4 straight FTs.
Indiana 89 at Phoenix 82
Jermaine O’Neal had 32 points, 14 rebounds and 8 blocks for Pacers (15-3), who pulled away in 4th quarter. Al Harrington added 18 points, 4 in decisive 9-0 run. Ron Artest (back) sat.
San Antonio 83 at L.A. Clippers 91
Corey Maggette scored 24 points and L.A. took advantage of Tim Duncan’s 1-game suspension by scoring 50 in paint, ending 6-game losing streak. Spurs on rare 3-game losing streak.
