New York Knicks Team Report - December 2

(Basketball News) - The New York Knicks fell to the Detroit Pistons, 79-78, in overtime on Monday at Madison Square Garden.

A Charlie Ward jumper with 12 seconds remaining in regulation sent the contest into overtime. Ward scored 12 for the Knicks, who were led by Allan Houston’s 20 points.

Antonio McDyess made his debut in the New York lineup, posting just two points in 13 minutes off the bench. He had been sidelined with a left knee injury for every regular season Knicks game since the team acquired him in a draft-day trade in June of 2002.

Kurt Thomas chipped in 16 points for New York, including the first two buckets of overtime, which staked the Knicks to a 74-70 lead. However, a Chauncey Billups three and Mehmet Okur’s free throws with 2:45 left gave the Pistons a 75-74 advantage.

After New York regained its lead on Houston’s bucket at the other end, Billups completed a nice three-point play to make it a 78-76 Detroit lead with 36 seconds remaining.

Houston hit a jumper to tie it up again just 13 seconds after that, but Billups made 1-of-2 from the line for the final margin with just 6.4 seconds to play.

New York had one more opportunity for the win, but Houston was stripped by Tayshaun Prince with the clock running down, and Michael Doleac’s desperation try was blocked by Okur.

The Knicks are off until Wednesday when they start a five-game road trip in Seattle.