Douglas Continues to Shine in Starting Role

Rookie Toney Douglas went from being a seldom-used reserve point guard to playing big minutes in the fourth quarter of the previous three games. Now, he’s a starter for the New York Knicks.

“He deserves it,” Coach Mike D’Antoni told MSG.

Douglas was in the starting lineup for the third time this season when the Knicks played the third game of their current five-game road trip Saturday night in Dallas, and he made the most of the opportunity. Douglas carried over the energy he brought to the team in the second half a night earlier in Memphis and guided the Knicks to a 128-94 victory over the Mavericks, who entered the night winners of 13 in a row.

Douglas showcased every part of his game as he recorded 21 points on 8-for-10 shooting from the field, including 4-for-4 from beyond the arc. He also had career-high eight assists and two rebounds in 30 minutes for the Knicks, who got off to a strong start and led by as many as 37 points against the Western Conference’s second-best team.

“Toney Douglas stepped up and had a huge game and gave us some things that we don’t normally have,” D’Antoni said, “that athleticism and making shots.”

The Knicks once again fed off of Douglas’ energy throughout the night on both sides of the court in the dominating performance over Dallas, which had defeated the Knicks by 50 in the first meeting between the two teams this season. Six Knicks players scored in double figures as New York shot 56.2 percent. And the Knicks posted eight steals and five blocks while holding the Mavericks to 42.5 percent shooting.

Bill Walker also continued his impressive play on the road trip with a career-high 23 points on 9-for-12 shooting, including five 3-pointers. Wilson Chandler tallied 22 points and Al Harrington scored 20, while David Lee finished with 15 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists for his 44th double-double of the season.

“They were hustling and playing together,” D’Antoni said.

Douglas was promoted to starting five after scoring 19 points and helping the Knicks trim a 29-point deficit to five in the final minute of a 119-112 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday. With him on the floor, the Knicks outscored the Grizzlies by 19 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter.

D’Antoni has used four different point guards in the starting lineup since last month’s trade deadline, including veteran Chris Duhon, playmaker Sergio Rodriguez and seven-time All-Star Tracy McGrady, who is now a starter in his more-natural off-guard position. The coach will continue to switch it up until he finds the player who fits in the best, but it’s almost certain Douglas will retain his spot for next game.

“We’re looking at different people and we want to give him a chance at it now and he deserves it, and it could go the whole time,” D’Antoni said before the game. “I’m not set on going four games for him and four games for the other guys. Right now it’s his spot, and if he keeps it, he keeps it.”

Duhon, who did not play in the previous 11 games, made a return to the rotation. He started the second quarter and finished with three points and three assists in 10 minutes. Rodriguez did not see any action.

“Sergio will get his chance again,” D’Antoni said.