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Streaking Bulls face invigorated Knicks

Dec 22, 2006 - 3:11 PM Chicago (15-10) at New York (11-17) 7:30 pm EST

NEW YORK (Ticker) -- After an embarrassing brawl, the shorthanded New York Knicks have reeled off two remarkable wins.

Coming off two consecutive overtime victories, the Knicks will host the red-hot Chicago Bulls in the finale off a four-game homestand.

After a wild melee on Saturday vs. Denver, rookie Mardy Collins, Jared Jeffries, Jerome James and Nate Robinson were all suspended for their parts in the altercation. Steve Francis (knee) and Quentin Richardson (back spasms) also are sidelined with injuries.

With only James available - after serving his one-game penalty - the Knicks remain undermanned, but are coming off two promising performances.

Two nights after defeating Utah in overtime on Stephon Marbury's buzzer-beating layup, the Knicks topped Charlotte in double-overtime, 111-109, on Wednesday. Jamal Crawford threw an in-bounds pass from just inside halfcourt with one-tenth of a second remaining, and David Lee converted on an incredible tap-in as time expired.

However, it won't get any easier for New York, which has lost four straight games to the Bulls, including both this season.

Chicago comes into the game on an incredible hot streak. It has won five straight contests and 12 of its last 13. After losing six of seven road games, the Bulls have won eight of their last nine home games to vault themselves back into the Eastern Conference race.

On Tuesday, Luol Deng scored 23 points and grabbed a season-high 12 rebounds as Chicago posted a 94-89 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers.