The first step to winning last night's game in Washington was holding Gilbert Arenas in check. The Knicks did that but couldn't follow the rest of the gameplan and lost 99-98 anyway. Caron Butler dunked with 2 seconds left to give the Wizards a win. Agent Zero shot just 4-of-14 against Stephon Marbury and a steady diet of double teams - "The 'hibachi' grill didn't get turned on tonight," said Arenas - but all the attention left room for Butler and Antwan Jamison all night. Butler dished 10 assists and scored 27 points while Jamison scored 21 as Washington won their ninth straight home game.
It's a shame the Knicks couldn't contain the second and third Wiz options because they were close to playing a perfect game. Quentin Richardson showed that his back injury is totally behind him by burying 14-of-25 shots, including 7-of-12 from three, to lead the Knick attack. His 35 points were a season-high and he added 10 boards for good measure. David Lee also had a double-double (11 points, 10 rebounds) and Eddy Curry chipped in with 18. Marbury's defensive effort must have sapped him on the other end, he shot 4-for-16, but I'm not sure what Jamal Crawford is using as an excuse for a 3-of-13 shooting night. They did combine for 15 assists but they could have used some of the fourth quarter heroics Crawford employed on Monday afternoon.
One funny subplot was Jared Jeffries's return to Washington. The lanky forward knocked down a couple of jumpers in the first quarter which got the crowd booing their former charge. One fan in particular was visible, he was a black guy in a tan suit if you were watching, elbowed his friend and had the look familiar to every sports fan. It's the eye-rolling that accompanies the sight of a guy who stank wearing your uniform playing well for someone else. Here in New York we call it the Antonio McDyess effect.
(Photo by Mitchell Layton/NBAE via Getty Images)
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