-Spurs 105, Knicks 93: In their season-opener, the Knicks nearly blew a 19-point lead and nearly lost to the Grizzlies before winning in triple overtime. On Monday, the Knicks nearly came back from a 23-point deficicit, but, after closing it to one, watched the Spurs beat back the rally. Should Isiah Thomas write this off his team's second-half effort becaues it happened in a loss, just as he ignored his team's near collapse in what has turned out to be the Knicks' only win this season? Stephon Marbury and the Knicks deserve credit for coming back, but the only way to stage a rally like they did is to play so poorly that they trailed by 23 after under 21 minutes of basketball.

-Lightning 5, Islanders 1: Mike Dunham's start in goal couldn't save the Islanders, who looked dreadful in a loss at home to the Lightning. After hanging tough for the first 33 minutes, the Islanders gave up four straight goals after 13 minutes had elapsed in the second period. New York hits the road for five straight games starting Thursday.

Photograph of the Knicks' Nate Robinson trying to a block a fourth-quarter pass from the Spurs' Tony Park to Tim Duncan by Mary Altaffer/AP