New president Donnie Walsh attended his first game, seated a few rows back from center court with MSG Sports president Steve Mills. Walsh, who was hired last Wednesday to take one of Isiah Thomas' jobs, said before the game he still hasn't met with Thomas to discuss the coach's future with the team.
Jamal Crawford scored 18 points for the Knicks, who seemed in control after an 18-0 spurt in the second quarter, but blew all their lead before pulling back ahead to win three straight for only the second time this season, having also done it from Jan. 13-16.
With the win, New York avoided its first 60-loss season in franchise history.
Jason Richardson scored 25 points, and Raymond Felton and Emeka Okafor had 24 apiece for the Bobcats, whose franchise-record four-game road winning streak was snapped. Okafor missed a jumper at the buzzer that would h have tied it.
The game was tied at 40 midway through the second quarter before Jones drilled consecutive 3-pointers to ignite an 18-0 spurt. Chandler's two free throws made it 58-40 with 2:48 remaining in the half, and New York led 64-50 at the break.
Richardson scored 11 points in the third quarter, including a 3-pointer with 29 seconds left that cut it to 86-83 entering the final 12 minutes.
