Le Basketbawl

The New York Knicks just can not handle prosperity; every time it seems like things are starting to turn around for the club they find a way to stub their toe. The Knicks went from a four game winning streak to a two game losing streak as they blew a double-digit lead over the Chicago Bulls Thursday and would go on to lose the game 98-89.

The victory for the Bulls was only their third in their last 14 games and they had to overcome a 17 point lead by New York in the first quarter to pull it off. Luol Deng led all players as he recorded a double-double with a game high 24 points. Three players for the Knicks scored 18 points each in the loss.

The Knicks had it going on offensively in the first as they would lead the Bulls 34-17 with 45 seconds left in the period. However Chicago scored 6 points down the stretch and the New York lead was down to 34-23 at the end of the quarter. The scoring spigot was turned off for the Knicks in the second and their lead was down to just a deuce as the game reached half-time and New York held a slim 50-48 advantage.

The lead would go back and forth between the two teams in the third but when the quarter ended it would be the Knicks on top with the score 72-69. With 8:34 remaining New York would take a 79-75 lead when Danilo Gallinari drained a three point shot from 24 feet out. That would be the last basket the Knicks would score for a while as Derrick Rose drove the lane with 4:22 to play putting the rock in hoop and giving the Bulls an 85-79 lead. New York could not get its act together and Chicago would walk away victorious.

Luol Deng had a double-double as he put 24 points on the scoreboard and grabbed 13 rebounds off the backboard; he also had 5 assists in the Bulls win. John Salmons scored 20 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal while Derrick Rose added 18 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds and 1 steal. Joakim Noah knocked down 15 points and Taj Gibson had 12 more.

The Knicks were led by Al Harrington, Chris Duhon and Danilo Gallinari each scoring 18 points. David Lee and Wilson Chandler each added 13 more in the loss. Chicago improves to 9-15 and will play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday while New York is now 8-17 and will host the Clippers on Friday.