Knicks Roll Over Maccabi 112-85 at MSG

• VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS
• Boxscore
• Photos: In The Paint Game Action

VIDEO: PLAYERS AND COACHES REACT TO THE WIN
• Isiah Thomas
• Jamal Crawford
• David Lee

The Knicks continued their strong summer and preseason play tonight, defeating the Maccabi Elite team from Tel Aviv 112-85 on Thursday night. Though the team's top priority was to give its younger players a chance to prove their mettle, the Knicks still worked hard to deliver a convincing victory to the packed house at Madison Square Garden.

Behind superior efforts from their whole squad -- seven players on the team scored more than 10 points - the Knicks did just that, while learning more about less established players on the team.

Though this was an early pre-season game, the Garden was energized on Thursday.

"I thought the crowd was great tonight. Everybody enjoyed themselves," said Knicks President, Basketball Operations, and Head Coach Isiah Thomas. "It was a good night."

After a sluggish start that saw the Maccabi Elite team jump out to an early lead, the Knicks turned the game around, exhibiting toughness in the post and speed on the perimeter.

Even in the early going, when Maccabi could do no wrong, the Knicks were doing all the right things -- getting open looks and driving to the basket at will. Although they were rusty at first and missed many shots and free-throws, the Knicks ended the evening by showing that when they get to the basket and create open shots as they did on Thursday, they are capable of giving the home fans much to cheer about in 2007-08.

Though the Knicks started slowly, everything changed after the team's first timeout. Whatever Thomas said to the team worked from that point, as the Knicks came out of that break with greater energy and intensity and began to chip away at the Maccabi lead.

One key to the surge was an obvious effort to get the ball to Zach Randolph, who showed impressive court vision in the post. The first play out of the timeout saw the Knicks feed Randolph in the post. He in turn pushed the ball out to Jamal Crawford on the wing, and with a pretty touch pass, Crawford found David Lee for a slam. With that exhibition of great ball movement, the momentum changed, and the Knicks began to exert their will.

Knicks fans can expect to see those two working well together as they build their chemistry during the course of the season. The work of Marbury and Randolph was just one of many impressive aspects of the Knicks' performance on Thursday.

Beyond the dominant victory against an elite European team, another storyline for the Knicks was the performance of some key reserves especially Fred Jones. Jones showed he's taking his fight for a roster spot seriously, and he rewarded his team with hard-nosed defense and an array of inside and outside shots.

Showing an ability to run on the break, good range and the speed to jump the passing lanes and still make it back to the ball, Jones impressed the fans and his head coach.

Asked if he felt pressure to prove his worth, Jones responded with answer that speaks to his determination.

"I don't feel pressure," he said. "I'm as basketball player. I go out and play the game. Your back is up against the wall and you step up and play … and I played."

Jones went on to discuss the progress in his game during the preseason.

"Tonight was well needed," he said. "My jumper hadn't been falling. I was waiting to break out and tonight it felt good. … I feel like my game speaks for itself and that I can help the team."

Jones certainly proved his worth on Friday, making valuable contributions on both sides of the ball. In a first half that saw the expected starters and main reserves play almost exclusively, Jones got a lot of court time. Though Thomas would not tip his hand too much regarding Jones' future, the amount of playing time he received is likely an indication of Thomas' thinking. With 14 points, three rebounds, four assists and two steals in 13 minutes, Jones did all he could to stake a claim on a roster spot.

Impressive as Jones' performance was, he was not the only player making a mark. Right there with him was first-round draft pick Wilson Chandler, whose stats -- four points, five rebounds and one block in 11 minutes – only partially reflected his contribution. Chandler brought energy to the floor and revved up the crowd with a couple of power dunks.

"It was a good win, and some of the young players got to play," said Chandler. "The crowd was exciting, too. I just want to play hard all the time, so I'm happy I was able to contribute."

Had their veteran teammates not performed so well, Chandler and Jones might have been the main story on Thursday. But with double-digit point totals and an ability to get to the basket at will, Marbury and Crawford displayed the sort of guard play that will bring the crowd to its feet this season. Randolph provided the inside game that will be a tremendous complement to center Eddy Curry, when Curry returns from an injury.

The tough, inspired play of Randolph, Crawford and Marbury ensured that the Garden crowd would walk away feeling good about the season ahead. On top of that, there was the knowledge that the Knicks had decimated a strong European team despite playing without two of their regulars in Curry and Renaldo Balkman, who is also out due to injury.

BONUS QUOTES

Isiah Thomas

On Thursday's win …
For us, every time we win a basketball game, it counts. We want to win every game. We understand that we have a lot of work to do, but we're prepared to do the work.

On playing international teams…
The whole idea behind Dream Team One was to globalize the game and introduce our product to a global world. I think it did that. I think a lot of kids across the world now play basketball, and they play at a very high level. Not only do they play, but they also coach at a very high level. We've learned a lot from the international coaches, just as they've learned from us.

David Lee

On playing at The Garden …
It was tremendous to be back here. When you go back to last season our crowds were always tremendous.

On the play of the team …
The second unit did great for us in the first quarter, and we cruised from there. We're playing together right now, and I think we're playing hard."

Stephon Marbury

On the atmosphere at MSG …
Great crowd, great crowd. The people showed us a lot of love too.

On Zach Randolph …
It's refreshing. It's refreshing to have another guy like that on the basketball court.

THURSDAY'S KNICKS SUBSTITUTIONS

Start of First Quarter
Mardy Collins in for Quentin Richardson at 3:25 (remaining)
Malik Rose in for Zach Randolph at 3:05
Nate Robinson in for Stephon Marbury at 2:38
Jared Jeffries in for David Lee at 2:17

Start of Second Quarter
Fred Jones in for Jamal Crawford at 12:00
Randolph in for Rose at 7:08
Marbury in for Collins at 7:08
Richardson in for Robinson at 5:48
Wilson Chandler in for Jeffries at 5:31
Lee in for Randolph at 4:36
Crawford in for Jones at 3:54

Start of Third Quarter
Lee in for Randolph Morris at 7:01
Robinson in for Marbury at 4:32
Collins in for Randolph at 3:03
Rose in for Crawford at 2:03

Start of Fourth Quarter
Jones in for Richardson at 10:30
Jeffries in for Lee at 9:24
Roderick Wilmont in for Collins at 8:27
Morris in for Rose at 7:17
Jared Jordan, Demetris Nichols, Chandler and Walter Russell, Jr. in for Jones, Wilmont, Jeffries and Robinson at 5:19
Wilmont in for Morris at 2:48