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Curry, Knicks overcome slow start to ice the Clippers

Feb 7, 2007 - 5:29 AM NEW YORK (Ticker) -- Eddy Curry continued to play like he had something to prove. That was bad news for the Los Angeles Clippers.

Curry scored 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds as the New York Knicks overcame an early deficit to post a 102-90 victory over the Clippers.

Jamal Crawford also had 23 points, including 3-of-6 from 3-point range, and reserve David Lee added 16 and 10 boards for the Knicks, who snapped a four-game losing streak to the Clippers.

"I think Eddy always wants to be the best player on the court, especially the best big man," Crawford said. "He feels like he should have made the All-Star game, but he is not going to cry about it. He is going to continue to play and try to help us get wins."

Curry, who was left off the NBA All-Star team despite posting career highs in points (19.5) and rebounds (7.0), shot 5-of-16 from the field and 13-of-16 from the foul line, helping the Knicks to their third straight home win.

"We came out with the right energy and right focus and we put them away," Curry said. "We just tried to double down on Elton Brand, and double down on Chris Kaman a little bit, just try to mix it up and make it tough for them."

"In December we talked about we can't win at home, what's the problem, is it the crowd, is it us," Lee said. "Now all the guys on the team are excited to come into the Garden and play. And really any team that comes in here, we feel like we should get the victory."

Brand and Tim Thomas each scored 22 points for Los Angeles, which started the game on a 10-1 run before being outscored, 101-80, the rest of the way.

"They were able to hit shots," Brand said. "They have to go to Curry because he is so big and efficient. And tonight their shooters were knocking down shots - whether it was Crawford in the corner or Stephon Marbury hitting threes. I think that was the difference."

Kaman had 14 points and Shaun Livingston added 13 off the bench for the Clippers, who shot 44 percent (35-of-79) and fell back to .500 (24-24).

"We had some good shots at times that we didn't make," Clippers coach Mike Dunleavy said. "They scored 23 points off our turnovers and there was a difference at the free throw line. That is the game right there."