By HOWARD BECK
Published: January 16, 2005
HICAGO, Jan. 15 - All the Knicks needed Saturday afternoon, with seconds to play and a rare road victory in their sights, was one clutch shot, which is why they have a roster stocked with Jamal Crawford, Stephon Marbury, Tim Thomas and Allan Houston.
But the shot they needed most was launched instead by the rookie Trevor Ariza. It was blocked by Andres Nocioni, and the Knicks departed the United Center with greater concerns than an 86-84 loss to the Chicago Bulls.
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They left wondering once more about just how much they can rely on Houston, once their most reliable player. Houston had knee stiffness in the second half, missed his final eight shots and was benched for the final 6 minutes 2 seconds.
So with the score tied at 84-84 and less than 10 seconds left, three of the Knicks' best weapons were on the bench. Crawford and Thomas were already nursing injuries that have kept them out of multiple games. Whether Houston needed to be alongside them is in dispute.
Coach Lenny Wilkens, citing Houston's knee problems, said Houston had to be benched in favor of Moochie Norris. Asked about Houston's ability to return, Wilkens said, "I knew he couldn't."
Moments later, a downcast Houston sat at his locker, ice strapped to both knees, and said he could have played "if he needed me." Houston insisted that he did not ask out of the game.
"That's Lenny's decision," Houston said. "That's not for me to question."
And yet, for the first time since he returned from an eight-and-a-half-month layoff caused by his knee problems, Houston said he was considering taking a break. He may skip Monday's rematch against the Bulls at Madison Square Garden.
"You know what?" Houston said. "It's difficult not being able to do things that you know you're capable of doing. All I can do is give us what I can right now."
Houston had scored at least 17 points in three of his previous five games. But with Crawford out the last 10 games, and few other options, Wilkens has leaned more heavily on Houston than either of them would prefer.
The wear on Houston was evident. After making his first three shots, all in the first quarter, he missed his final eight attempts.
Crawford could return as soon as Monday. Whenever he does, it might give Houston the chance to take some time off.
"I'm thinking about that every day," Houston said. "That's something that I try not to get into, is games that I should sit out. But if it gets to that point, yeah, I will think seriously about that, talk to our staff, our medical staff and see if that's something to do. Right now, it's hard for me to do that, because we have so many guys out."
The Knicks led by as many as 9 points in the fourth quarter, but the Bulls rallied behind the rookie Ben Gordon, who scored 14 points in the period, and Tyson Chandler, who blocked three shots.
Marbury led the Knicks with 25 points, but he went 1 for 7 in the fourth quarter and missed a 3-pointer with 32.4 seconds left and the score tied, 84-84.
Chicago's Adrian Griffin missed two free throws, leaving the Knicks with the chance to take back the lead. With the shot clock running down, the ball found its way to the 19-year-old Ariza, who was standing near the baseline, 19 feet out. He launched a shot into a leaping Nocioni.
"I should have just pump-faked him and went around him," Ariza said. "That was my first time in that situation. So it's a learning process."
It was otherwise a banner day for Ariza, who finished with career highs in points (18) and rebounds (9).
"If I'm in that situation again, trust me, something good is going to happen," Ariza said.
The blocked shot went out of bounds, and Chandler dived to save the ball, starting a fast break that ended with Eddy Curry's layup, which proved to be the game winner. Chandler blocked Nazr Mohammed's attempted layup at the final buzzer to preserve the victory, the Bulls' sixth in a row. Chicago (16-18) has won 12 of its last 15 games.
The Knicks (17-19) have lost six of their last seven games to fall two games below .500 for the first time since November.
REBOUNDS
Sentiment drove Jamal Crawford toward a possible return Saturday. But good judgment kept him on the bench, where he rested his injured right big toe for the 10th straight game. Crawford said he needed another practice or two before he would be ready to play. "It's pretty disappointing," said Crawford, who spent his first four pro seasons with the Bulls. ... Tim Thomas said he hoped to return to the lineup for Monday's game against Chicago at Madison Square Garden. Thomas has missed three straight games
because of a strained right calf and bruised left knee. ... Othella Harrington, who went to the Bulls in the trade that brought Crawford to New York, said he was happy to be in Chicago. "I miss New York, I miss the city itself and the guys," he said. "I don't miss all the madness."