Knicks Win 4th Straight, but Jackson Is Main Character

The Knicks and the Philadelphia 76ers, two teams with unfortunate records, convened at Madison Square Garden on Monday night to play a game that was most notable because of one man's absence.

The specter of Phil Jackson - iconic coach, spiritual guru and the latest boldface name to draw the attention of the owner James L. Dolan - loomed over the proceedings as the Knicks escaped with a 123-110 victory to boost their push for a playoff spot.

It was a sloppy effort by the Knicks (25-40), who appeared determined to help the Sixers avoid their 17th straight loss. Instead, the Knicks managed to win their fourth in a row, pulling away in the fourth quarter.

Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 28 points, Amar'e Stoudemire added 23, and Carmelo Anthony and J. R. Smith each finished with 22.

Still, the game felt a bit like background noise as Jackson continued to weigh an offer to join, or even head, the Knicks' front office.

The team's pursuit of Jackson, 68, has become an extended process, rife with intrigue. As a player, Jackson was part of the Knicks' only championship era, which produced titles in 1970 and 1973. He went on to win an additional 11 championships as a head coach with the Chicago Bulls and the Los Angeles Lakers, and was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Now, decades since Jackson was last employed by the Knicks, the team has been wooing him to return. After Jackson turned down an offer to become the team's head coach, Dolan met with him recently to discuss a role in the front office, according to a person in the N.B.A. with knowledge of the discussions.

Todd Musburger, Jackson's agent, did not return a call seeking comment.

As one of the most accomplished figures in N.B.A. history, Jackson would provide the Knicks with a dose of credibility at a time when they could use some. He would likely be charged with turning a beleaguered franchise into a contender. How long it would take him to accomplish that goal - or whether he even could, given the team's bloated payroll and lack of draft picks - would be an endless source of fascination in New York and around the league.

In addition to their struggles this season, the Knicks face an uncertain summer. Anthony, who intends to opt out of his contract so he can explore free agency, said last month that he wanted the Knicks to present him with a concrete plan that demonstrates how they plan to improve.

At the same time, Jackson has never held a front-office position, and he would be taking on the added challenge of dealing with an owner who has been widely derided for his decision-making process and for his reluctance to allow executives who work for him to speak in public. Jackson, who has written several books, has never been known to censor himself.

Facing the Sixers (15-48), the Knicks overcame a dreadful defensive effort. Tyson Chandler, the starting center, missed the game because of personal reasons, and the Sixers had little trouble negotiating paths to the baskets. The Knicks gave up 61 points in the first half as the Sixers shot 56.4 percent from the field.

The Sixers, though, seem bent on burrowing to new levels of futility, and the Knicks took advantage in the second half. Philadelphia not won a game since Jan. 29, as General Manager Sam Hinkie has engaged in a quest to strip the roster of fat contracts in exchange for picks and prospects. The Sixers are hoping for a brighter future, which might be all that has helped them weather a dreary present.

The Knicks have experienced their share of 'dark places,' to borrow a phrase used by Anthony during one of the team's not-so-distant losing streaks. But behind a revamped starting lineup that includes Stoudemire, the Knicks have unearthed chemistry - albeit against a string of dubious opponents. The Knicks are in no position to be picky about their wins. They all count the same.

'Every game going forward is so important to our ball club,' Coach Mike Woodson said before the game. 'We dug such a major hole at the start of the season, and now here we sit with 18 games left, still with an opportunity. I don't want anybody in that locker room begging for help. We just got to handle our own business.'

As for Jackson, the Knicks have refused to acknowledge that they have even met with him, although Woodson seemed to come closest.

'It's out there,' he said when asked whether he felt his players would be distracted by all the chatter about Jackson. 'It's what it is.'

REBOUNDS

The Knicks signed Shannon Brown and Earl Clark to a second set of 10-day contracts Monday. ... Kenyon Martin, sidelined since Feb. 1 with a left ankle injury, has yet to resume basketball activities, Mike Woodson said.

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