Knicks crush Warriors with big first-half push

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The New York Knicks put aside their problems with guard Stephon Marbury to score 82 points in the first half and crush the Golden State Warriors 138-125 on Saturday.

David Lee scored 37 points and pulled down 21 rebounds, both career highs, and Chris Duhon had a Knicks record 22 assists to spark New York to victory.

The win came three days after the team said Marbury had refused to play on Wednesday against the Detroit Pistons.

Marbury, who has filed a grievance over the incident, claiming he never refused to play, was suspended without pay on Friday by the Knicks for Saturday's game. He stands to lose nearly $400,000 in salary after missing both games.

The defeat was the sixth consecutive for the Warriors, who played without injured top scorer Stephen Jackson.

Lee had 20 points and 10 rebounds by halftime.

"We make it tough on teams when we spread the floor," Lee told reporters.

"Tonight, (the Warriors) decided to stay out on our shooters and Chris (Duhon) did a great job of finding me."

That helped make the Knicks a winner, said coach Mike D'Antoni.

"When we play as a team and help another guy score, we're good. When we try to go one-on-one and just hold the ball, we're mediocre."

Former Warrior Al Harrington added 36 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks.

"It was a little emotional, but I was having a lot of fun out there," said Harrington, who was traded to the Knicks last week.

Duhon's performance, which broke a 50-year team record, also impressed D'Antoni.

"For him to be out there, playing 45 minutes with a bad back, he's got courage," he said.

Corey Maggette paced Golden State with 32 points and 12 rebounds.

Jamal Crawford, who went to Golden State as part of last week's trade with the Knicks, added 21 points and 10 rebounds.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury and Martin Petty)