Milwaukee 97 New York 88

By CHRIS SHERIDAN
AP Basketball Writer
November 5, 2002

NEW YORK (AP) -- Not only are the Knicks failing to sell tickets, they're quickly losing hope.

Sam Cassell hit three consecutive jumpers after the Knicks came back from a 16-point deficit, leading the Milwaukee Bucks over New York 97-88 Monday night.

It was another display of offensive ineptitude down the stretch for New York, the biggest difference being that there were fewer people on hand than usual to witness it. The crowd was announced as 18,100 -- more than 1,600 short of capacity -- to end New York's sellout streak at 433.

``Ever since I've been coming it's been a sellout,'' Cassell said. ``This is the best place in the world to play basketball. The light (shines) only on the court. The focus is only on the court. You can't beat that.''

But things have changed at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks have been in a freefall since the early part of last season.

The non-sellout was the first in the building since Feb. 2, 1993, a stretch of nearly a decade. And the mood in the locker room was grim afterward with the Knicks now off to their worst start since going 0-5 15 years ago.

``At times I think we're starting to feel sorry for ourselves. There's not enough room, not enough time for that,'' Allan Houston said. ``An energy, a pride, a passion has to kick in.''

But about the only player who showed those emotions was Cassell, who scored seven straight points for the Bucks after the Knicks rallied to tie it at 80 with 5:28 left.

The Bucks went on a 7-0 run to regain control, and New York never got closer than three the rest of the way.

Milwaukee closed the game with a 17-8 run, the latest team to have their way with the Knicks in crunch time. In four games, New York has been outscored 125-71 in the fourth quarter.

``There has to be some electricity in the locker room. Something has to kick in where we have some emotion about us. Maybe I just need to come out screaming and surprise everybody,'' Houston said.

Cassell, despite missing his first five shots and sitting out most of the third quarter with foul trouble, led Milwaukee with 22 points -- half of them coming in the final 12 minutes.

Michael Redd added 19 and Ray Allen 17 as the Bucks won for the first time this season after two losses.

Houston scored 28 to lead the Knicks.

The Bucks began to pull away late in the first quarter and early in the second, exploiting the matchup of Shandon Anderson trying to guard Tim Thomas. Thomas had four baskets when isolated against Anderson, and a 3-pointer by Redd with 6:54 left before halftime gave Milwaukee a 39-25 lead.

Milwaukee's largest lead was 60-44 early in the third before Cassell picked up two quick fouls. He sat out the rest of the quarter as the Knicks cut their deficit to 71-66 entering the fourth.

New York finally tied the game for the first time when Howard Eisley hit a 3-pointer after an offensive rebound by Kurt Thomas, making it 78-all with 6:05left. A jumper by Houston made it 80-80 before the Bucks pulled away.

Notes

Kurt Thomas had his third double-double of the season with 14 points and 16 rebounds. ... The Bucks are playing their first four games and seven of their first 10 against teams from the Atlantic Division. ... Knicks G Lavor Postell, sidelined since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery Sept. 30, will begin practicing Tuesday. ... The worst season-opening losing streak in Knickshistory came in 1985, when they opened 0-8.

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