New-look Knicks play host to Thunder

Basketball Betting Lines

02/20/2010 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - New York Knicks team president Donnie Walsh said the team has more 'flexibility' to bring in high-priced players now that the trade deadline has come and gone.

The Knicks acquired former scoring champion Tracy McGrady on Thursday in a three-team swap with Houston and Sacramento, and will resume a three-game homestand tonight versus the Oklahoma City Thunder at Madison Square Garden. They're now capable of offering two maximum salary contracts to the 2010 free agent class which includes stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, among others.

New York, which freed itself of about $32 million in salary cap space, received McGrady's league-high $23 million expiring contract from the Rockets as well as Kings point guard Sergio Rodriguez. Houston gets forwards Jordan Hill and Jared Jeffries from the Knicks, and a protected 2012 first-round pick. The Rockets have the option of exchanging first-round draft picks in 2011. The Kings acquired guard Larry Hughes from New York, and forwards Carl Landry and Joey Dorsey from Houston.

McGrady could make his Big Apple debut tonight, but it's still unclear. He has appeared in just six games this season after returning from knee surgery and has career averages of 21.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 34.4 minutes in 790 career games (640 starts) in 13 NBA seasons with Toronto, Orlando and Houston. All the players involved in the three-team trade have to pass a physical and get all the necessary paperwork completed before anyone can play with their new team.

"Hopefully we get it done," Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni said on the team's site. "They're all excited to play and they want to play. It's not just up to us, it's the other teams, everybody has to pass their physicals and get all the paperwork. If we can get it all done, they'll be ready to play tomorrow. And I hope that that's the case."

The Knicks could use any kind of boost right now and have lost five in a row, including Wednesday's 115-109 setback versus the Chicago Bulls in the opener of the homestand. Al Harrington had 27 points and Wilson Chandler added 26, while David Lee had 23 points and 12 boards. The Knicks will also host Milwaukee and are 12-17 at MSG this season.

Oklahoma City will try to extend its season high winning streak to eight games Saturday night. The Thunder made it seven wins in a row with a 99-86 triumph at Dallas on Tuesday, as All-Star Kevin Durant extended his franchise record of scoring at least 25 points in 26 consecutive games with exactly 25 points. His current stretch is the longest run since Allen Iverson reached the magic number in 27 straight games during his MVP 2000-2001 season.

Jeff Green, Russell Westbrook and James Harden each had 17 points in the win, as Oklahoma City improved to a season-best 10 games above .500. The seven consecutive victories is the longest since a nine-game run early in the 2004-05 campaign.

"It's just how we've been playing defense together," Russell Westbrook said of the recent success.

The Thunder are fighting for playoff positioning in the West and will also visit Minnesota on the current road swing. They've won three in a row as the guest and are 15-11 away from home this season.

Oklahoma City beat the Knicks by a 106-88 count at home on January 11 thanks to Durant's game-high 30 points. The Thunder have won five of the last six meetings with New York.

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