• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

D'Antoni returns to Phoenix when Knicks face Suns

Dec 15, 2008 - 2:46 PM New York (11-12) at Phoenix (14-10), 9:00pm EST

PHOENIX (Ticker) -- Mike D'Antoni instilled the motto of scoring in "seven seconds or less" as coach of the Phoenix Suns for nearly five seasons. It appears his new team is benefiting from the philosophy as well.

D'Antoni makes his return to Phoenix on Monday when the New York Knicks take on the Suns with hopes of notching their third straight win.

The Suns hired D'Antoni during the 2003-04 season and flourished the following campaign, posting a 62-20 record and reaching the Western Conference finals.

D'Antoni's high-scoring mindset led to the Suns stamping their identity as a perennial 50-plus win team, but similar success in the playoffs never came to fruition. In D'Antoni's final run with Phoenix, the team fell in the first round to the San Antonio Spurs last spring.

Given permission by general manager Steve Kerr to explore other options, D'Antoni was eventually hired by the Knicks in May to change the face of the franchise after it suffered through Isiah Thomas' heavy shortcomings as coach and general manager.

New York defeated the Sacramento Kings, 114-90, on Saturday. David Lee - who had double-doubles in 10 straight games before grabbing just one rebound in a 121-109 win over the New Jersey Nets on Friday - recorded 19 rebounds against the Kings.

The Knicks, who are third in the NBA in scoring with 105 points per game, have won two straight road contests for the first time since last January.

Phoenix, meanwhile, is off to its worst start since it was 8-13 in 2003, triggering D'Antoni's hiring.

Under new coach Terry Porter, the Suns improved to 12-2 when scoring at least 100 points with a 113-112 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday.