Knicks Clipped by Randolph, Taylor in OT

One of the Knicks’ five missed field goals in the opening period was conveniently tipped in by Randolph as they built an early 19-point lead and appeared headed toward a win. But the rest of the way was a battle with Randolph’s current team, and the Knicks lost to the L.A. Clippers 140-135 in overtime Wednesday night at The Garden.

“There are stretches where we look really good and then there are stretches where we are not mentally focused,” Knicks Head Coach Mike D’Antoni said after his team dropped its sixth in a row. “The biggest thing is we don’t guard anybody.”

The Knicks set a season high with 44 points in a quarter to open the night, but were held to just 22 the second quarter as the Clippers crept their way back in the game. The two teams went back-and-forth throughout the second half before a moment of déjà vu hit the Knicks at the worst possible moment.

In their previous meeting with L.A. right before the All-Star break, Al Harrington picked up a technical foul for hanging on the rim following a two-handed dunk that gave the Knicks a three-point lead in the closing seconds. Randolph forced overtime with a bucket and the Clippers handed New York its sixth straight defeat.

On Wednesday, pretty much the exact same thing happened, except this time the game was played on the East Coast and Harrington didn’t think he deserved the ‘T’.

“There was somebody underneath me. You can just look at the tape and see that my momentum was carrying me that way, and Al Thornton walked underneath me and I let go of the rim,” Harrington said. “The ref said I slapped the backboard. What can I do? Same team, same thing. It’s crazy.

“In L.A., yeah, I did pull up and slap the backboard, but this time I felt like I was just making a routine play.”

Harrington’s dunk with 27 seconds left was his final basket on a night when he was nearly unstoppable offensively as he finished two points shy of his career best with 38 on 13-of-21 shooting from the field..

Randolph poured in 33 points and grabbed six rebounds in his first return to New York since being dealt to the Clippers in a four-player trade on Nov. 21. But the Clippers’ scoring surge was sparked by Mike Taylor, a rookie who entered the night averaging just over three points per game.

The 6-foot-2 Taylor, who was drafted out of the NBA D-League, scored 33 points on 14-of-20 shooting off the bench. His six points in overtime matched Wilson Chandler for most in the extra period.

“We knew he was fast. We knew he was quick. I didn’t know he was going to get 17 in the first half and end up with whatever he ended up,” D’Antoni said. “Obviously, he showed a lot tonight but I don’t know if that is a normal game, but he was good tonight.”

The Knicks will have a day off before returning to The Garden to face the New Orleans Hornets on Friday.