McDyess Returns, but the Knicks Lose

Antonio McDyess was so overcome with emotion, he retreated to the locker room during the national anthem. His first shot barely grazed the net, his first alley-oop turned into an alley-oops, his first free throw bounced around and out.

McDyess eventually scored his first point as a New York Knick, grinning in embarrassment and blowing a kiss to the crowd after making a third-quarter free throw in a 79-78 overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons at Madison Square Garden.

That shot accounted for half of McDyess’ offensive production Monday night as he finally made his regular-season debut for New York nearly 14 months after fracturing his kneecap in a preseason game.

“Playing, scoring, rebounding -- that was bad,” McDyess said after finishing 0 for 5 with two turnovers. “But physically I give myself an ‘A.’ I was doing things I felt I would never be able to do again.”

Chauncey Billups, however, scored seven of his 24 points in overtime for the Pistons, who won after Mehmet Okur blocked Michael Doleac’s jumper just before the final buzzer.

“There was not one time when I thought about the injury,” said McDyess, whose left knee has undergone three operations in the last 19 months. He was acquired from Denver in a draft-night trade two summers ago.

Allan Houston had 20 points for the Knicks.

Utah 91, New Jersey 84 -- Andrei Kirilenko and DeShawn Stevenson scored 18 points apiece at Salt Lake City to help the Jazz to its fourth consecutive victory in holding off the Nets.

Utah let a 19-point second-half lead dwindle to three with less than a minute to play before sealing the game to improve to 9-1 at home.

Richard Jefferson had 22 points for the Nets.

Indiana 89, Phoenix 82 -- Jermaine O’Neal had 32 points, 14 rebounds and eight blocked shots at Phoenix as the Pacers used a 9-0 fourth-quarter run to pull away from the Suns.

The Pacers played without Ron Artest because of back spasms.

Shawn Marion had 15 points for Phoenix.

Chicago 97, Milwaukee 87 -- Playing hours after the trade that brought them from Toronto was completed, Jerome Williams and Antonio Davis helped Coach Scott Skiles win in his Chicago debut. It ended a seven-game losing streak.

Williams finished with 13 points, a team-high 10 rebounds and four steals. Davis had 11 points, five rebounds and three blocked shots. Crawford led the Bulls with a season-high 30 points.

Michael Redd had 26 points for the Bucks.

Memphis 96, Boston 89 -- Pau Gasol scored 19 points at Boston to help the Grizzlies to their first victory against the Celtics in more than three years. Paul Pierce had 26 points for Boston.