Knicks slip past slumping Kings

Stephon Marbury had 25 points and eight assists while Eddy Curry netted 24 and pulled down 10 rebounds for the Knicks, who have won four of their last five games. Channing Frye donated 17 points and grabbed five boards and Crawford dished out eight assists.

Kevin Martin poured in 30 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim added 25 for the Kings, who have lost six straight. Ron Artest had 12 points, five boards and five assists in the setback.

David Lee’s layup with 3:17 on the clock gave the Knicks a 92-89 advantage, but Corliss Williamson’s layup followed by Martin’s trey and then a Williamson free throw, moved the Kings back in front, 95-92, with under 1 1/2 minutes remaining.

Crawford drained a running bank shot and Lee’s free throws put New York ahead, 96-95, in the see-saw battle.

Abdur-Rahim’s hook shot gave Sacramento a one-point lead with 26.2 ticks left, but Crawford’s floater eight seconds later put the Knicks up 98-97.

Williamson then set an illegal screen out of bounds, giving New York the ball, and Crawford connected on both from the line with 13.8 to play.

Artest’s game-tying attempt at a three rimmed out and Crawford’s free throws accounted for the final score.

The Kings led 27-23 after the opening 12 minutes of play.

The Knicks opened the second quarter with an 11-1 run, highlighted by Lee’s three-point play, for a 34-28 margin.

However, Sacramento countered with a seven straight points, as New York committed five turnovers in a three-minute span, for a 35-34 edge.

With the Kings up 47-46, Frye hit a trey as time expired for a 49-47 halftime lead.

Leading 76-75 heading into the final frame, Sacramento tallied eight of the first 12 points of the quarter, including six points from Martin, for an 84-79 margin.

New York responded with an 11-4 rally, capped by Marbury’s three, for a 90-88 lead with nearly four minutes to play.

Game Notes

Curry is 30 for his last 36 from the charity stripe...There were 16 ties and 30 lead changes in the contest...The Knicks shot 48 percent from the floor, while the Kings connected on 46 percent of their shots from the field...New York won the rebounding battle, 44-35...Lee finished with 15 points and 12 rebounds...Sacramento’s Mike Bibby ended with 11 points and six boards.