Knicks outlast Pistons in 3 OTs

The longer the game, the better the New York Knicks are.

The Knicks withstood their third overtime game in 10 days and their third this season of two or more overtimes, outlasting Richard Hamilton and the Detroit Pistons, 151-145, Wednesday night.

Channing Frye forced the third overtime with a buzzer-beating jump shot, Jamal Crawford took over from there and the Knicks improved to 4-0 in overtime this season.

“We don’t want to give Coach [Isiah Thomas] a heart attack, but we have shown we can win in these type of situations,” Crawford said.

The Knicks overcame Hamilton’s career-high 51 points, the first 50-point game against them since Michael Jordan accomplished the feat in 1997.

Playing 55 minutes, Hamilton was 19 for 37 and made all 12 free throws in the first 50-point game by an opponent at Madison Square Garden since Jordan scored 55 points March 28, 1995.

Crawford finished with 29 points, nine in the third overtime. He carried the Knicks after Stephon Marbury fouled out in the second overtime with a season-high 41 points, leaving the already short-handed Knicks with only two available guards.

“Tonight we never thought we were going to lose,” Marbury said. “We always knew we were going to win. We played well down the stretch, and guys made plays when they were supposed to.”

Eddy Curry scored 33 points for the Knicks, and Frye had 26. Crawford had a season-high 11 assists -- the last one setting up Frye’s jumper at the end of the second overtime.

The Knicks won two overtime games last week, with Marbury beating Utah at the buzzer Dec. 18 and David Lee’s tip at the end of the second overtime knocking off Charlotte two days later.