Strong Second Half Boosts Knicks Over Clippers

Stephon Marbury scored 12 of his 15 points in an early secondhalf run that overwhelmed the Clippers and turned the game around, sending the Knicks to a 102–90 victory over Los Angeles last night.

Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry each scored 23 points to lead New York, which shot poorly and defended worse in the first two quarters before controlling the second half of its second consecutive victory.

New York never led in the first half and trailed by as much as 12. But the Knicks stormed out of halftime with a 24–4 spurt, turning a 10-point deficit into a 10-point lead in a span of 9 1/2 minutes and handing the Clippers their second straight loss.

Elton Brand had 22 points and 13 rebounds for the Clippers, who lost for the third time in 10 games and fell to 1-2 on their seven-game Eastern trip. Reserve Tim Thomas also had 22 points.

Down 53–43 at halftime, the Knicks scored the first 10 points of the second half, tying it after the second of Marbury's two consecutive layups with 8:24 remaining.

Marbury, who had only three points and three turnovers in the first half, attacked the basket much more in the third quarter. Four of his five field goals in the run were drives, including his three-point play with 2:30 remaining in the quarter that capped it and gave New York a 67–57 advantage.

The Clippers started 2–for–15 with three turnovers after shooting 54% in the first half. They were only 4–for–19 (21ffi) in the third quarter, getting outscored 27–11 as the Knicks took a 70–64 lead into the fourth.

Los Angeles briefly got within three in the fourth, but New York regained control behind Crawford, who scored 10 points in the period. David Lee added 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Quentin Richardson scored 15 points for the Knicks.