Search for first win is over for Knicks

By GREG BEACHAM, AP Sports Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Though Larry Brown knew his first win with the New York Knicks would come eventually, he was a bit surprised to pick it up in what used to be one of the NBA's most intimidating road arenas.

Brown won for the first time in six games as New York's coach, with rookie Channing Frye scoring 19 points in a 105-95 win over the floundering Sacramento Kings on Sunday night. Stephon Marbury had 17 points and seven assists for the Knicks, who jumped to a big early lead and hung on late to halt their worst start in 18 years during Brown's first season in charge of his hometown team. Historically, Brown hasn't put great trust in young players, but his youthful Knicks might win him over eventually -- particularly if they keep playing this way.

Frye had 13 points in the first half, and Jamal Crawford and Eddy Curry later added 16 points apiece as New York never trailed while snapping an eight-game losing streak in Sacramento. Brown ascribed no special significance to the win, but his players knew it meant something.

"It feels good. I always feel good after a team tries hard," said Brown, the only head coach to win championships in the NBA and NCAA.

"We had a lot of guys contribute. To win one on the road against a pretty good team is a good feeling. ... People don't win in this building much, so it feels good." Brown's club won by making 54 percent of its shots -- and finding an opponent with even worse late-game execution.

The Knicks wasted second-half leads in both of their last two games, and blew most of a 19-point lead in Sacramento, but hung on when the Kings couldn't capitalize on several chances to rally. "We were very resilient, and we played with a lot of heart," Marbury said. "It's just one game, but winning that first game after we lost the last five, that's tough to do. Coach was happy we won, and we were happy to win for him. He deserved it." New York reached season highs with 105 points, 41 field goals, 22 assists 15 steals, in addition to its sharp shooting.

Peja Stojakovic scored 14 of his 31 points in the fourth quarter, but missed seven 3-pointers for the Kings, whose 2-5 start has caused discontent in Arco Arena's nightly sellout crowds. Sacramento is off to its worst start since 1997 -- the year before coach Rick Adelman took over the club. Mike Bibby had 18 points and seven assists, but Sacramento was booed off the court after a horrific first half in which New York led by 19 points.

The boos returned when the Knicks scored 12 straight points spanning the third and fourth quarters to blow it open again. "This is very frustrating. There wasn't any energy out there," Bibby said. "We had no communication out there tonight. We need to work on our problems, because I know they can be fixed."

Marbury had six turnovers in the first three quarters, but kept New York steady down the stretch. Sacramento got within 97-91 on Jason Hart's free throw with 1:27 left, but Marbury fed Crawford for a layup before hitting two free throws with 47 seconds to play. Referee Steve Javie then ejected Shareef Abdur-Rahim with two technical fouls during the ensuing timeout, even though the Sacramento forward apparently wasn't talking to him.

The Knicks made a 16-3 run spanning the first and second quarters, leading 38-19 on Crawford's 3-pointer early in the second. The Kings made 12 turnovers before getting serenaded to the locker room with a 57-41 halftime deficit. Sacramento finally woke up in the third quarter, making a 16-6 run and pulling within 72-66 before Marbury's three-point play started a 12-0 run.

"We waited too long to get into this game," Adelman said. "In the first half, we just never got anything going. I don't know why we didn't come ready to play in this game." Both teams have started the season slowly, though both have spent most of it on the road. New York is just halfway through a six-game West Coast road trip, while the Kings opened the schedule with three road games and another tough trip to Denver.

Notes
New York hadn't won in Sacramento since Feb. 20, 1997. ... Both teams made 21 turnovers. ... Hart dived into the Knicks' bench to save a loose ball midway through the second quarter -- and Malik Rose got a technical foul for holding onto Hart, preventing him from running back upcourt.

Way to go NY!

Source: AP Sports