Crawford, Knicks Stop Streaking Cavs

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The New York Sun

Jamal Crawford scored 13 of his 24 points during a fourth quarter in which the Knicks held Le-Bron James scoreless and kept him from his first career triple-double, leading New York past Cleveland 98-88 last night.


“We put hands up and he still hit those shots,” Cleveland’s Drew Gooden said. “You knew he was on fire because he wasn’t even following through.”


Crawford also had five assists, and Kurt Thomas had 16 points and 14 rebounds to help the Knicks end Cleveland’s six-game winning streak.


Gooden led Cleveland with 25 points and 15 rebounds, Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 21, and James had 13 points, 10 assists, and nine rebounds.


Thomas gave the Knicks the momentum for good by hitting consecutive jumpers from the corner for an 85-79 lead. Back-to-back baskets by Crawford, the latter a 3-pointer, made it 90-81 before Ilgauskas shot an airball and Penny Hardaway converted a jumper.


The crowd at Madison Square Garden took particular glee in Crawford’s offensive show, growing ever more comfortable with a newcomer who brings added quickness and unpredictability to a position manned by Allan Houston for so many recent years.


“I definitely feel like we have a connection, honestly,” Crawford said. “They appreciate good basketball, and what me and my teammates are trying to do is win for them.”


Stephon Marbury added 12 points and 10 assists for the Knicks, who shot a season-high 53.3%.


The Knicks had a 15-3 run in the second quarter to go ahead 48-33, but James led the Cavs back in the third quarter with four assists as Cleveland closed the period with a 25-10 run to pull to 73-71.


But that was as close as they Cavs could get, the Knicks using their defensive schemes to keep the ball out of James’s hands in the early part of the fourth quarter.


Cleveland’s last chance slipped away when James lost the ball on a drive with under 90 seconds left and the Knicks ahead 96-88.


The Knicks had lost their previous five games against Cleveland.


Allan Houston, out since late last season with chronic knee soreness, participated in the team’s morning shoot-around but has not yet been cleared to scrimmage.


The Knicks also activated point guard Jamison Brewer and placed guard Moochie Norris on the injured list.


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