1Dec/0910:26 AM

Suns visit D’Antoni, Knicks at MSG

By Vince Marotta

This morning, Suns guard Jason Richardson tweeted that Madison Square Garden is “an amazing place to play.”

I’m betting that most members of the New York Knicks would disagree with him.

The Knicks are a dreadful 3-14 (and one of those shouldn’t count–it was against New Jersey) heading into tonight’s game against the Suns, and even worse, 1-8, on their home floor. They’ve allowed an average of 111.6 points per game in their nine home contests–not good news since the highest scoring team in the league is coming to town.

The Suns, meanwhile, keep plugging along. Phoenix has won their last 4 games, and sport the best record in the league at 14-3.

This is the first of back-to-back reunion games for the Suns. Tonight, they meet up with their former coach Mike D’Antoni, and tomorrow night, they’ll visit former Suns center Shaquille O’Neal in Cleveland.

Here are the expected starting lineups for tonight’s game in the Big Apple.

Phoenix Suns (14-3)

F - 1 Amare Stoudemire - 6-10 - Cyp.Creek HS
F - 33 Grant Hill - 6-8 - Duke
C - 8 Channing Frye - 6-11 - Arizona
G - 23 Jason Richardson - 6-6 - Michigan State
G - 13 Steve Nash - 6-3 - Santa Clara

New York Knicks (3-14)

F - 21 Wilson Chandler - 6-8 - DePaul
F - 8 Danilo Gallinari - 6-10 - Italy
C - 42 David Lee - 6-9 - Florida
G - 0 Larry Hughes - 6-5 - St. Louis
G - 1 Chris Duhon - 6-1 - Duke

By the Numbers

32-16
The Suns’ record since Alvin Gentry became the head coach last February.

35-64
The Knicks’ record since Mike D’Antoni took their head coaching job prior to the 2008-09 season.

20
The number of consecutive games, dating back to last season, that the Suns have scored 100 or more points in a game.

17-3
The Suns’ record in that span.

Several hundred
The unofficial number of orange ties in the wardrobe of Knicks’ coach Mike D’Antoni.

1 and 2
The ranks of Knicks’ forward Danilo Gallinari and Suns’ center Channing Frye in three-pointers made.

Never
The number of times two player who are 6′10″ or taller have ranked 1-2 in three-pointers made for a season.

20.1
The scoring average of New York’s Al Harrington, who is the top bench scorer in the league.

6
The number of nicknames listed in the media notes for Knicks’ forward Wilson Chandler (Will, Ill Will, Kill at Will, Will the Thrill, Willie Blanco, Willie McFly).

5.1
The number of rebounds averaged by Chandler this season, unofficially making him the first player in NBA history with more nicknames than rebounds.

8
The number of road wins this season for the Suns, tied with Orlando for the most in the league.

1
The number of home wins for the Knicks this season, tied with Minnesota for 2nd-least in the league.