Boston - New York : 100 - 81

By CHRIS SHERIDAN
AP Basketball Writer (Yahoo! Sports)
October 8, 2002

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -- Antonio McDyess had a decent debut in his first exhibition game for the Knicks, collecting 17 points and 17 rebounds in a 100-91 loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night.

McDyess played 32 minutes in his first game for New York, which acquired him from Denver on draft night in a five-player deal. He accumulated his 17 points without the Knicks running any plays for him in the low post.

``Things come easy for him, and once we get some of our (offensive) sets in he'll be all that much more effective,'' Knicks coach Don Chaney said. ``He's a force down there.''

Tony Delk scored 16 points to lead six players in double figures for the Celtics, who took the lead early in the first quarter and never let the Knicks get close in the second half.

Antoine Walker scored 15, Paul Pierce and Eric Williams scored 13 each and new acquisition Vin Baker had 11 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Baker played 23 minutes and scored most of his points from the foul line.

``I thought he played well at both ends of the court,'' Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. ``I'm real pleased with his effort.''

McDyess said he felt uncomfortable for much of the game, his timing off and his free throw stroke missing. McDyess went just 5-for-12 at the line. McDyess also picked up a technical from referee Jeff Smith, who also whistled technicals on Kurt Thomas and Pierce.

There were 23 fouls and 32 free throws in the first quarter alone, and the teams combined to shoot 80 free throws overall.

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