NEW YORK _ Someday a game between the Knicks and Nets at Madison Square Garden will hold more allure for the fans than the introductions of celebrities in attendance of the halftime performance of the Amazing Savitsky Cats. But that night was not Saturday.
The disgruntled Knicks fans spent much of the night chanting for Frank Ntilikina to get a chance to get off the bench and provided a huge ovation as he dribbled the ball up court when he finally got in for the first time in four games. There was little else to cheer for from the home team as the Knicks fell behind in the first quarter and never threatened again, falling 112-104 to the Nets for their third consecutive loss.
Before the game Knicks coach David Fizdale was asked what it might be like if these two teams could both be contenders at the same time _ a fantastical notion with the Nets having snapped an eight-game losing streak a night earlier in Toronto and the Knicks falling to 8-19 on the season.
"Oh man, that'd be huge," Fizdale said. "Both organizations are building and working towards that, really trying to develop their youth in their way. Hopefully attract some free agents in the summer."
That seemed a long way off as this game was lifeless much of the night. The only allure came when Ntilikina came in and then was put in place with the rest of the last two draft classes _ Damyean Dotson, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox and undrafted rookie Allonzo Trier. Ntilikina, who finished with seven points and three assists came in with 3:43 left in the third quarter and the Knicks played the youngsters together for the entire fourth quarter, giving a hint of what could be.
Ntilikina scored his first points on a floater in the lane and then with 5:54 left the Knicks forced a shot clock violation. Ntilikina scored again to cut the deficit to 101-96. But Dotson missed a layup and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored when Robinson goaltended his attempt. Allan Crabbe then delivered a 3-point field goal to push the Nets lead back to 106-96 with 4:31 remaining.
The starting lineup was as quiet as the crowd much of the way. Tim Hardaway Jr. was 2 for 12 from the field _ 0 for 5 from three-point range. Noah Vonleh struggled through a four-point, 3-rebound night. Only Enes Kanter displayed any signs of life, scoring 23 points and adding 14 rebounds in 26 minutes.
Hardaway, upset after the Boston loss Thursday, proclaimed that the Knicks weren't going to win anything if they were giving up 30 points every quarter and the message didn't seem to change anything as they gave up 30 in the opening quarter to the Nets and were down seven after one quarter, falling behind by as many as 15 in the half before settling for a 56-45 halftime deficit.
With wins few and far between for the Knicks and Nets right now, Fizdale reiterated what he has stressed since taking the job _ that the Knicks will work to attract free agents by how they conduct themselves this season.
"I think how your building functions, what people are saying about how you work with your players every day, how people are treated every day," Fizdale said. "I can't speak for every team in the league, but I know for us we have a star sitting in the wings (Kristaps Porzingis) that I think is attractive to free agents. Again, I think between myself, Steve (Mills) and Scott Perry we have some great relationships. I think agents are going to see that they can trust us with their players to put them in great situations."
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson could have been talking for the Knicks young players as he said, "If your team is winning and guys see that you're improving with a bright young future. And guys are getting better year after year, that's the most attractive thing. They want to see a team that has potential in the future."
