Knicks 67, Celtics 53 (4:34 remaining, 3rd quarter)

Maybe it’s a mirage, but I’ve actually witnessed Eddy Curry (19 points, 9 rebounds) muscle an opponent out of the way for a rebound, Channing Frye (above) do much the same, Stephon Marbury pass up an open three to dish down low to Frye, and Steve Franchise…resemble a confident, competent scoring option?

Then again, the Celtics shooting 3 for 17 from 3 point range has just a bit do with New York’s large lead.

Da Bulls are being blown out by the Sixers tonight, and barring a crazy comeback, Chicago will start ’06/07 with a 3-9 mark. If the season ended today (and generally, the season doesn’t end in late November), Chicago wouldn’t insist on switching spots in the draft order with the Knicks — for the next 90 seconds I can continue to think airplane-glue induced thoughts about Greg Oden.

I’m not entirely sure at which demographic Nissan is aiming their shithead-living-in-a-Sentra advertisements. Not since Subaru’s ill-fated “this car is like punk rock” spots has an automobile manufacturer been so adept at generating badwill.

The 2006-2007 D-League campaign has tipped off, with the Sioux Falls Skyforce leading the Dakota Wizards, 60-52 at the half. Renaldo Major (above) has 15 points for Dakota and if he keeps this up, Plasticman’s gonna have to change his name to Renaldo Minor.

I don’t care what Darko’s birth certificate says —I’m turning off the Magic/Heat game because with each rebound and successive dunk by Alonzo Mourning, I feel like I’m watching child abuse. Not that I’d mind most of the time, I just can’t stand ‘Zo being the abuser.

The Hawks’ Tyron Lue — despite being ice cold most of the night — sank a huge jumper with about 30 seconds left, extending Atlanta’s lead over Toronto to 95-90. Immediately following, the Raptors’ T.J. Ford hit a 3 from downtown Athens, GA. After Chris Bosh missed one of two from line, Ford botched a layup that would’ve cut the lead to one. Earlier, Josh Smith made a terrific block on a Bosh shot attempt in the 3rd quarter that the former brought to the other end of the floor for a dunk ; Smith had 10 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks in Atlanta’s 97-93 victory.