EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Stephon Marbury missed the New York
Knicks' victory at New Jersey on Wednesday night, three days after
his father's death.
Donald Marbury was taken from Madison Square Garden to a
hospital during halftime of the Knicks' loss to Phoenix on Sunday
night and died before the game ended.
Though Knicks coach Isiah Thomas left open the possibility
earlier Wednesday that Stephon Marbury could travel to New Jersey,
the point guard didn't attend the Knicks' 100-93 win.
Marbury sent a statement during the game, thanking fans for
their "outpouring of support, heartfelt prayers and words of
encouragement."
Marbury also thanked the police and the American Diabetes
Foundation before adding: "My father left his legacy [where] he
always wanted us to finish playing, at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN... ."
The Knicks also were without starting center Eddy Curry, while
the Nets were missing All-Star Jason Kidd.
Kidd, who has often excelled against the Knicks since his trade
to New Jersey in 2001, was not in uniform because of a migraine.
"You catch a team without Jason, you can see the type of
difference he makes," Thomas said. "We were fortunate enough to
catch them on a night that he wasn't playing. We were down two guys
also, but the Nets are definitely a different team without Kidd.
I'm glad we didn't have to see him tonight."
Thomas said he wasn't sure how long the Knicks would be without
Marbury. Don Marbury's funeral is Thursday in Brooklyn, and Thomas
said the team planned to attend.
"In these situations, you always prepare that the player is not
going to play," Thomas said before the game. "And if they feel
that they need to play, some players play through this process and
it makes them feel better and some handle it differently."
Curry sprained his left ankle while running during the morning
shootaround. With he and Marbury out, the Knicks were missing two
of their top four scorers.
Fred Jones started at guard and had 15 points, while David Lee replaced Curry in the
frontcourt and had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Eddie Gill started in Kidd's point guard spot, fouling out with
four points and four assists.