Camby Sits, Knicks Keep Winning

Even with a performance they weren't happy with, and with Marcus Camby serving the first game of a five-game suspension, the Knicks had enough to beat the Pistons.

Behind 34 points from Allan Houston, New York defeated Detroit 97-91 Friday night. The Knicks won for the 10th time in 11 games and extended their record of holding opponents under 100 points to 32 consecutive games.

"You didn't see our best," New York coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We weren't at our best tonight, but we found a way to win."

Two familiar faces in Michigan led the Knicks.

Houston, a fomer member of the Pistons, scored 34 points despite scoring only one point in the first quarter. Glen Rice, a Flint native who starred at Michigan, added 18 points off the bench while playing through a heel injury after receiving treatment for it in Toronto.

The NBA's leading scorer, Jerry Stackhouse, scored 37 points for Detroit, which has lost seven of eight and 10 of its last 12 games.

Houston and Rice were making most of the Knicks' shots, combining for 19-of-34 overall and 7-of-11 on 3-pointers. Their teammates made just 19 of 8 shots.

Rice didn't know he would be able to play until he went through warm-ups just before the game.

"They told me that I'm going to experience some pain and discomfort and that it's up to me whether I can go out and play," Rice said.

Van Gundy was impressed with Rice's threshold for pain.

"He has played three games and two practices in the last three weeks," he said. "And the last three gmes, he's been hobbled. But he's found a way to play very well and you have to give him a lot of credit. That's hard to do."

New York went on a 25-5 run bridging the first and second quarters to take control of the game.

Detroit cut its deficit to three points once and to four twice in the third quarter, but each time the Knicks scored on the ensuing possessions.

The Knicks led 77-70 after three quarters, and their lead wasn't threatened in the fourth.

Camby was suspended for throwing a punch at San Antonio's Danny Ferry on Monday. Camby missed Ferry, but his head collided with Jeff Van Gundy's head and the Knicks' coach still had a black eye and numerous stitches over his left eye Friday.

The Knicks started Kurt Thomas in place of Camby and he had 10 points and five rebounds. Camby is averaging 10.6 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks a game.

The Pistons got off to a good start with a 22-15 lead at the 4:25 mark, but the Knicks responded with their run for a 44-30 lead midway through the second. New York led 56-47 at halftime.

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