New York Knicks Team Report - January 15

(Basketball News) - Stephon Marbury scored 26 points and dished out 10 assists as the New York Knicks beat the Orlando Magic 120-110 on Wednesday at Madison Square Garden.

The game capped a bizarre day for the Knicks, who learned only hours before tipoff that head coach Don Chaney had been fired and Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens was named his replacement.

Herb Williams was on the bench to guide the Knicks, who won for only the second time in their last seven games.

Wilkens, the NBA’s all-time winningest coach with 1,292 victories, will take over at practice on Thursday and will be calling the shots for the first time on Friday when New York hosts Seattle.

Chaney guided the Knicks to just a 15-24 mark this season and a 72-112 record after taking over for Jeff Van Gundy on December 10, 2001. He had come under heavy scrutiny of late and had been serenaded by fans at home with loud chants of "fire Chaney."

The change might have been a spark for the Knicks, who shot a sizzling 60 percent from the field. Allan Houston poured in 23 points, while Keith Van Horn added 22 for the Knicks, who rebounded from an overtime loss earlier this week to the Mavericks.

Van Horn and Kurt Thomas each hauled down 10 rebounds. Thomas added 16 points, while Penny Hardaway came off the bench to chip in with 13 points.

The Knicks, who also fired assistants coaches Brendan Malone and Lon Kruger, have dropped five of seven at MSG and are 9-11 at home this season.