Nate Robinson scores 27 off bench as New York Knicks beat Detroit Pistons: as I saw this I could not help but to feel outraged

New York

BY Frank Isola

DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Monday, January 18th 2010, 4:01 PM

KNICKS 99, PISTONS 91

Nate Robinson may be a favorite among the fans but to Mike D'Antoni, Robinson is someone the head coach tolerates. Barely.

There's a reason why D'Antoni sat Robinson for 14 games. And there are reasons like Monday when Robinson can be a valuable asset.

With Chris Duhon continuing to play his way out of the lineup, Robinson rescued the Knicks from what would have been the worst loss of the season. Playing against a depleted Detroit Pistons roster, Robinson became deto-Nate as he scored 27 points off the bench in the Knicks 99-91 victory.

The win snapped a two-game losing streak and improved the Knicks record to 17-24. Coming into their annual Martin Luther King matinee at the Garden, the Knicks had lost four of their last five including Saturday in Detroit.

Robinson scored eight of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and made 11 of 18 shots overall. Duhon went 0-for-3 in 19 minutes and shooting 3-for-24 in his last four.

Robinson's 27 points are his highest output since he scored 41 on Jan. 1 in Atlanta. That game was Robinson's first after being bench for 14 straight and had it not been for Duhon struggling who knows when Robinson would have played again.

But he is back in the rotation permanently and back to being himself again, which isn't necessarily a good thing. 'Lil Him began his day with the announcement that he will defend his crown at the Slam Dunk contest in Dallas. Robinson celebrated the news with a second quarter dunk.

Wilson Chandler added 17 points, Al Harrington 17, Danilo Gallinari 16 and David Lee finished with 11 points and 15 rebounds. His counterpart, Ben Wallace, had a strong game with 16 points and 14 rebounds.

Rodney Stuckey led the Pistons with 22 points and Charlie Villanueva scored 16. Detroit was 0-for-12 on three's while the Knicks made 10 of 22.

Poor John Kuester, the rookie head coach and Larry Brown disciple, who is charge of a team that can't stay healthy. Monday, the Pistons were playing without Ben Gordon, Tayshaun Price and Richard Hamilton. Gordon was in uniform but was sidelined due to a groin injury. Prince is out with a sore left knee and Hamilton was a late scratch because of an upset stomach.

That's how much the NBA has change over the past 10 years. Charles Oakley wouldn't miss a practice, much less a game, after broke bones in his face. Nowadays, players beg out of the lineup because of a tummy ache.

The Pistons starting lineup included Jonas Jerebko, Austin Daye and Chris Wilcox which doesn't exactly conjured up memories of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and Bill Laimbeer.

The players Kuester used played hard for him. Detroit played the Knicks even for one quarter before Robinson erupted for 13 points in the second quarter, including a dunk set up by Duhon's lob pass. Harrington scored seven in the quarter and rookie Jordan Hill added four as the Knicks built a 57-43 lead.

D'Antoni probably should have opened the second half with that trio but instead gave his regular starters another chance and that group faltered badly. With Wallace having his way with Lee, Detroit outscored the Knicks 27-11 in the third quarter.

In the opening three minutes of the fourth, Robinson and Harrington each scored five points to help the Knicks regain the lead.

CURRY UNDER THE KNIFE: The Knicks announced Monday that Eddy Curry was scheduled to have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday afternoon. Curry, who has played in just seven games, is expected to out six weeks and there is a chance he may not play again this year. ... Larry Hughes didn't play for the eighth time in the last nine games.

Indiana Pacers (10-22) at New York Knicks (13-20), 6 pm

New York

The New York Knicks will try and build on a thrilling overtime win in their last outing when they welcome the Indiana Pacers to historic Madison Square Garden.

The Knicks kicked off the new year in style on Friday when Nate Robinson, in his first game since Dec. 1, single-handedly carried the Knicks with 41 points, totaling a combined 25 in the fourth quarter and overtime as New York pulled out a 112-108 comeback victory over the Hawks at Philips Arena.

Robinson averaged 22 minutes of playing time in his first 12 contests this season before being benched by head coach Mike D'Antoni. Out of nowhere, the 5-foot-9 guard came off the bench Friday and continually maneuvered his way into the lane en route to an 18-for-24 shooting effort to go with eight assists and six rebounds in the win.

"It taught me a lot. It taught me how to be humble, to be thankful for the blessings that God gives you every day," Robinson said of his benching. "We've got the best job in the world, and you can't take it for granted."

Wilson Chandler chipped in 24 points and 17 rebounds for the Knicks, who trailed by as many as 15 in the fourth quarter before defeating the Hawks for the second time on their home court.

The Pacers, meanwhile, snapped an ugly eight-game losing streak on Saturday by besting Minnesota, 122-111, at Conseco Fieldhouse despite playing without three key contributors.

Roy Hibbert and Luther Head each finished with 21 points in that one as Indiana avoided blowing a large lead to beat the Timberwolves. The Pacers looked to be in good shape after building a 73-45 halftime lead but their cushion was cut to five with just under two minutes to play until the team held on to pick up its first win since Dec. 16.

"We came out with good energy, didn't have to dig ourselves out of a deep hole," Hibbert said. "We were having fun and playing good basketball."

Brandon Rush added 16 points while Mike Dunleavy scored 15 with eight rebounds in the victory.

All-Star forward Danny Granger (plantar fascia) and fellow frontcourt mates Troy Murphy (sprained ankle) and Tyler Hansbrough (ear infection) were all sidelined. Murphy and Hansbrough are questionable for tonight's contest.

Indiana has dropped six straight on the road but has won in seven of its past nine trips to MSG, including a 101-89 triumph in November.