New York, NY (Sports Network) - David Lee registered his 30th double-double of the season with 25 points and 16 rebounds, as the New York Knicks survived the Phoenix Suns, 114-109, at Madison Square Garden.
Al Harrington tallied 17 points and eight boards for the Knicks, who have won two in a row and four of six overall. Tim Thomas had 10 points, all coming in the fourth quarter, as Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni got his first win against his former club, who he coached from 2003-08.
Nate Robinson poured in 20 points and four steals off the bench while Chris Duhon had 19 points, seven assists and six rebounds in the win for New York, which snapped a five-game losing streak to Phoenix.
Jason Richardson had a game-high 27 points and grabbed nine boards for the Suns, who have lost two straight and four of five overall. Shaquille O'Neal added 21 points and 12 rebounds in defeat, and Grant Hill gave 14 points.
Steve Nash scored just nine points, but set a season-high with 19 assists in the loss. He also went 1-for-1 from the foul line and has not missed a free throw since December 14.
With the game tied at 87 early in the fourth, Thomas hit a pair from the charity stripe and Duhon followed suit to help the Knicks outscore the Suns 14-6 to assume a 101-93 lead with five minutes left to play.
Moments later, Amare Stoudemire had two free throws and Hill tipped in his missed layup to bring the Suns within 103-99.
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However, Duhon drained a three on New York's ensuing possession for a 106-99 lead with a shade over two minutes left.
Down by seven with 14 seconds left, Nash nailed a three to cut it to 110-106. Duhon was fouled on the following inbounds pass, but hit only 1-of-2 from the line.
The Suns came down the floor and, with 11 seconds left, Richardson buried a three to bring Phoenix within 112-109.
Phoenix was forced to foul from there and failed to pull any closer.
The Suns opened a 30-26 lead after the first quarter, but a 13-2 run by New York led to a 54-50 Knicks lead late in the half. However, Phoenix closed the second period on an 8-0 burst en route to a 58-54 lead at the break.
Two baskets from Lee bookended a Duhon layup to start the third quarter, and the Knicks were up 60-58.
Phoenix answered with an 8-0 run of their own as Hill had three buckets and Richardson nailed a jumper to put the visitors on top, 66-60, with just under eight minutes left in the frame.
Harrington's three-pointer capped a 7-0 Knicks run that gave the home team a slight 74-72 lead with 4:05 left in the third.
The Knicks were sitting on an 84-79 cushion heading into the final 12 minutes.
Richardson's three-point play knotted the contest up at 87-87 with 9:45 left in the final frame.
