New York Knicks Team Report - January 17

(Basketball News) - Keith Van Horn poured in a season-high 30 points as the New York Knicks began the Lenny Wilkens era with a 108-88 win over the Seattle SuperSonics on Friday at Madison Square Garden.

Wilkens, the all-time NBA coaching leader in both wins and losses, was hired to replace Don Chaney on Wednesday afternoon. The 66-year-old, who became the team’s 21st head coach, watched his new team blow out one of his former clubs. Wilkens coached the Sonics to an NBA title in 1979.

"When you come in to the Garden, you better bring your best basketball," a confident Wilkens warned the rest of the league on facing the Knicks in New York.

Van Horn hit 10-of-15 shots, including 5-of-8 from beyond the arc. Allan Houston added 18 points and Stephon Marbury contributed 17 assists to help the Knicks top the 100-point barrier for the third straight game. New York has won two of those three contests.

"I thought he had a fabulous game. He did everything I asked him to do," Wilkens explained of Marbury, the Knicks’ new star point guard.

New York won for the third time in eight home tilts and improved to 11-11 on its home floor this season.

Wilkens added Mark Aguirre and Dick Helm to his coaching staff earlier Friday.

The Knicks visit the Chicago Bulls tonight.