QUARTER-BY-QUARTER ANALYSIS
First quarter: The first quarter was tightly contested with neither team leading by more than four points. The Bobcats came out strong behind the play of Primoz Brezec, shooting 56.5 percent from the field. Brezec connected on all six of his field goal attempts and scored 13 points to lead Charlotte to a 28-24 lead after one period. Gerald Wallace registered four points, eight rebounds and two assists. Nazr Mohammed had eight points for the Knicks, who also topped the 50 percent shooting mark.

Second quarter: As good as the first quarter was offensively, the second quarter was bad. Both teams opened the period ice cold from the field -- Charlotte missing 13 of its first 15 shots and New York missing eight of its first 11. The game was tied at 38-38 with 3:43 remaining when the Knicks went on a 9-2 run capped by an Allan Houston three-point field goal to take a 47-40 lead. Gerald Wallace stopped the run with a steal and layup with four seconds remaining to cut New York's advantage to 47-42 at the break.

Third quarter: Charlotte trailed by only five points early in the third when the Knicks put together a 7-0 run capped again by an Allan Houston three-pointer to open their first double-digit lead of the afternoon at 58-46. New York extended its lead to 15 points several times during the quarter as the Bobcats continued to struggle offensively. After scoring 28 points in the first quarter, Charlotte managed only 32 points in the second and third combined. A late reverse layup by Brevin Knight could only cut the Knicks' advantage to 72-60 entering the fourth.

Fourth quarter: New York quickly built its lead to 16 (76-60) with 10:07 remaining on baskets by Mohammed and Moochie Norris. But as they have done throughout their inaugural season, the Bobcats came fighting back. Emeka Okafor dunked back a missed jumper by Wallace to ignite what would become a 17-3 run over the next five minutes to cut the New York lead to two at 79-77. The final six points in the run came on back-to-back three-pointers by Steve Smith. Tim Thomas stopped the run with a driving layup and then pushed the advantage back to six points with two free throws. The Bobcats pulled within four on two occasions, but Stephon Marbury hit a jumper and Thomas added a three-pointer as the Knicks pulled away down the stretch. Thomas scored eight of his team-high 20 points in the final 3:43 to lead New York. Okafor recorded his 15th consecutive double-double with a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds.

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GM & HEAD COACH BERNIE BICKERSTAFF SAYS...
(on the game) We just weren’t very good consistently tonight. We fought back and got ourselves in position, but then we made two critical mistakes. We had a couple of turnovers and then sometimes we took shots that were like turnovers.

(on the comeback) We got stops defensively and we made baskets. But once we got ourselves back in the basketball game, we made a couple of bad decisions. But I’m pleased with the fact that this team never surrenders. They had a tough time but they fought through it. We’re getting better.

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INSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM

EMEKA OKAFOR
(on the game) It was a tough game. They got out to a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter and we fought hard and cut it to two. But we couldn't get a field goal.

(on his play) I'm just playing. They're coming to me and I've been very fortunate, so I'll just take them as they come.

(on the Knicks' third quarter run) We had some lapses. They made shots and we didn't. We made some simple errors, and they just widened that gap a little bit.