Chris Duhon finished with 17 points and nine assists for the Knicks, who averaged 118 points in their two earlier victories over Washington and were even better Wednesday. But they could never shake the Wizards until the final minutes. New York led by only three before Lee got a layup off an inbounds pass and Richardson followed with a 3-pointer to make it 119-111 with 1:25 remaining.
Lee, among the league leaders in rebounding and field goal percentage, added six assists. He was coming off a 24-point performance in the Knicks' surprising victory at New Orleans on Monday.
Washington's Nick Young scored 33 points, establishing a career high for the third time in four games, and Caron Butler added 25. Mike James had 20 points, but the Wizards stumbled when he had to leave with five fouls.
The injury-plagued Wizards have been without Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Hayward all season and then recently lost DeShawn Stevenson (back) and Etan Thomas (torn ligament in his left knee). But that's meant more time for Young, who was 13-of-17.
The Knicks were opening a stretch where 10 of 13 games are at home, but they'd better get the wins early. The last three games, all the first week of next month at Madison Square Garden, are against the Lakers, Cleveland and Boston.
Both teams had improved defensively lately, but were back to their old bad habits in this one. The Wizards shot 61 percent and the Knicks 59.5 percent in the first half, which ended with New York leading 67-66 behind 21 points from Harrington.
Washington made eight of its first 12 shots, New York started 8-of-13, and the Wizards were ahead 20-18 with the first quarter not even half over. The Knicks led 36-30 after Harrington banked in a 3-pointer as time expired.
Notes: Wizards interim coach Ed Tapscott formerly worked in the Knicks' front office, including a stint as interim president and general manager. He's perhaps best remembered in New York for the 1999 drafting of French center Frederic Weis, who never played for the team, when many Knicks fans wanted hometown product Ron Artest.
"Your focus is always forward, although it's always a thrill to come back to the Garden," Tapscott said. "I mean this is obviously a special place. I spent 10 years here, 10 very good years and it's a special treat to come here." ... Knicks C Eddy Curry was not in uniform, out for the third straight game after making a brief season debut on New York's road trip. Coach Mike D'Antoni didn't know when Curry would play, but said it wouldn't be until he could get some practice time. Curry's rough season got worse Monday when his former driver filed a lawsuit accusing Curry of owing him money, sexually harassing him and berating him with racist slurs. Curry has denied the accusations.
