February 22, 2010
McGrady loses game but wins applause
McGrady scored 26 points in his Knicks debut Saturday night, two days after being acquired in a trade. Though the Knicks ultimately fell to the Oklahoma City Thunder, 121-118, in overtime, it was an encouraging start.
McGrady played 32 minutes and finished 10 for 17 from the field, with 5 assists and 4 rebounds, lifting his teammates and energizing Madison Square Garden said by New York Times.
With 7:55 left to play, the Knicks trailing by 5 and McGrady on the bench, a pocket of fans began a chant of “We want T-Mac!” Within seconds, the entire arena was booming with the request. When McGrady tried to check in with 6:54 to go — only to be turned back by the referee Ron Garretson — the fans booed in displeasure.“I haven’t felt that good in a while, to really be received that way, to hear those chants,” McGrady said. ”It really gave chills down my spine.”
It had been two months since McGrady’s last game for the Houston Rockets, and 12 months since he underwent knee surgery. He played longer and better than anyone expected including himself.
LA's Colorful Sky 