It was a thrilling victory for the New York Knicks (3-3), who topped the Brooklyn Nets (3-3) 97-95 in overtime Wednesday to close out their preseason at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, N.Y., but it might have been a hollow one considering they may have lost another key superstar.
Defensive juggernaut and center Tyson Chandler had to leave the game with a sore knee less than a minute into the game, which serves as a possible preview for their season opener Nov. 1 against the Nets at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
However, despite his injury, which occurred when he collided with the Nets' Gerald Wallace, Chandler did not seem very concerned.
"It's frustrating, because like I say I felt great before the game," Chandler told the Associated Press, as ESPN reported. "I was excited, team's looking good and we were up for this game to try to set the tempo moving into the first game of the year. And I mean I look at the stat sheet, I played 44 seconds, so it's just disappointing to happen at all."
While Chandler is going to get an MRI Thursday to check the severity of the knee's ailment, his potential loss leaves the Knicks in the unenviable position of being down two key stars after losing power forward Amar'e Stoudemire for two to three weeks, also with a knee injury.
Speaking on his teammate's condition, Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony was optimistic about Chandler's health.
"I was just hoping that it wasn't too serious. After talking to him, seeing him at halftime, after the game, doesn't seem like it's too serious," Anthony said after the game. "Probably a real bad bruise, I don't know how they're going to call it. Good thing is now preseason is over with, we got a week before the real thing starts, so hopefully he gets himself back ready."
Knicks sharpshooter Steve Novak hit two key three-pointers in overtime, including one that put the Knicks ahead for good with 1:26 left in OT.
Rookie Chris Copeland, who has had a good showing in the preseason, led the Knicks with 16 points while Anthony and point guard Raymond Felton scored 15 points apiece for New York. Deron Williams led the Nets with 22 points.
Around the league: NBA Preseason Wrap-up for Wed, Oct. 24:
Grizzlies: 115, Magic: 100
At least five Memphis Grizzlies (4-3) were in double figures as Memphis beat the Orlando Magic (2-5) 115-100 at the Fedex Forum in Memphis, Tenn.
Orlando trailed by as many as 12 in the first half but pulled to 88-86 entering the fourth quarter. However, the Grizzlies went on a 9-1 run to put their lead back to double digits to keep the Magic out of reach.
Grizzlies small forward Rudy Gay had another strong performance with 20 points, while Memphis power forward Zach Randolph added in 18 points and center Marc Gasol put up 18 of his own.
Shooting guard J.J. Redick led Orlando with 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Magic Power forward Nikola Vucevic had 16 points and nine rebounds and Glen Davis added 12.
Rockets: 97, Hornets: 90
Jeremy Lin had another small offensive night, but had five assists to his credit as the Houston Rockets (4-2) beat the New Orleans Hornets (3-4) 97-90 at the New Orleans Arena in New Orleans, La.
While Lin scored on 2 points on 1-for-8 shooting, he also led the Rockets in blocks, swatting 2 shots on the night.
The Rockets trailed by 2, 45-43 at halftime, but they hit six of their first eight shots in the third quarter, taking command of the game with a 17-4 run.
Shooting guard Carlos Delfino was Houston's top scorer with 20 points while small forward Chandler Parsons had a big night with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Hornets power forward Ryan Anderson led all scorers with 23 points, including a 5-for-7 three-point barrage, while highly touted No. 1 draft pick Anthony Davis scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds and added three blocked shots.
Thunder: 88, Mavericks: 66
The Oklahoma City Thunder (4-3) continue to show why they reigned as Western Conference Champions last season, handily beating the Dallas Mavericks (3-4) 88-66 at the Intrust Arena in Wichita, Kans.
The Thunder's 14-4 run to start the first quarter with a 21-14 lead set the tone for the game, putting the exclamation point with consecutive dunks from Nick Collison and Thunder star Kevin Durant.
Durant led the Thunder with 18 points, while adding seven rebounds, five assists and a steal while super sub James Harden scored 16 points for Oklahoma City. The Mavericks, playing without Shawn Marion, Vince Carter and injured superstar Dirk Nowitzki, were led by small forward Jae Crowder, who had 21 points on the night, with Dallas power forward Brandan Wright chipping in 11 points of his own.
Timberwolves: 95, Pistons: 76
Small forward Chase Budinger's 21 points led the Minnesota Timberwolves (4-2) to a rout of the Detroit Pistons (3-4) 95-76 at the Mts Centre in Winnipeg, Canada.
Power forward Derrick Williams added 18 points while Timberwolves center Nikola Pekovic put up 14 points.
Williams scored 13 points and Pekovic added 10 during a huge first quarter head start that gave Minnesota a 27-10 lead. By halftime, the Timberwolves were leading 52-29.
For Detroit, point guard Rodney Stuckey scored 21 points, while center Greg Monroe and small forward Kyle Singler added 11 apiece.
Wizards: 101, Heat: 94
The Washington Wizards (3-4) can thank a huge second half for their scoring an impressive 101-94 win over the defending NBA Champion Miami Heat (4-3) at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Miss.
The Wizards trailed by 14 at the half after Miami started the game on a 12-1 run, but a huge third quarter brought Washington back to lap the Heat, while the Heat's LeBron James sat out the fourth quarter.
Washington shooting guard Martell Webster scored 23 points to lead the Wizards, while small forward Chris Singleton added 17 points for Washington. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 23 points and Chris Bosh added 18. James finished with 13 points and six assists.
Clippers: 97, Lakers: 91
In a battle for hometown bragging rights, the Los Angeles Clippers (4-3) made sure the Los Angeles Lakers (0-7) stayed winless in the preseason after pulling out a 97-91 victory at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
Point guard Eric Bledsoe, who became a standout during the Clippers' playoff run last season, was the lead scorer of the game with 22 points, 11 assists, 9 steals and 5 rebounds.
"Just having fun," Bledsoe told the Associated Press afterwards, recalling his only triple-double came in high school. "I thought I was going to be a little winded, but I wasn't."
The Clippers went on an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter, including four points by Bledsoe, taking an 80-73 lead. But guard Steve Blake hit a 3-pointer that drew the Lakers within one before Clippers rookie Travis Leslie ran off six in a row to keep the Clippers ahead 91-86.
All-Star Blake Griffin had 15 points for the night while Clippers star point guard Chris Paul sat out. With All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard sitting out, Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 17 points.
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