Big Mac-Gate? Knicks Say 'Terri-Bulls'

Chicago Bulls' Ben Wallace, right, blocks a shot by New York Knicks' Malik Rose during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game on Tuesday, April 10, 2007, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Jerry Lai) (Jerry Lai - AP)

Robinson scored 24 points for New York (32-46), which lost for the sixth time in seven games. Curry committed two offensive fouls in the opening 1:44 and finished with just four points and seven rebounds.

With four games left, the 10th-place Knicks still have a remote shot at the postseason, but they have to climb over Orlando and Indiana to grab a playoff spot. Against Chicago, they were simply overmatched.

Four of the Knicks' top five scorers _ guard Stephon Marbury (sprained right big toe), guard Jamal Crawford (right ankle stress fracture), forward Quentin Richardson (back surgery) and forward David Lee (right leg pain) _ were nursing injuries. New York was also without forward Renaldo Balkman, who stayed home with a stomach virus and missed his second consecutive game.

Things quickly unraveled against the Bulls.

Curry, New York's leading scorer, headed to the sideline after picking up those offensive fouls. The Knicks committed seven turnovers in the first 4:01. New York also missed nine of its first 10 shots, which probably explains why Curry checked back in midway through the quarter with the score 12-2.

It was 21-10 after the first quarter and 45-27 at halftime.

"I have never been accused of running up the score," Bulls coach Scott Skiles said. "From everything I hear, the Knicks are on the verge of becoming a great team. So they are probably a team we will be playing over and over again the years to come. Something like this should not fester."

But Curry accused his former coach of doing just that. Asked if he was surprised Skiles would allow the Bulls to run up the score, Curry said, "No, I'm not. I'm not surprised."

Notes:@ The Bulls' most lopsided victory was a 111-66 win over Memphis on Jan. 13. The 66 points were a season-low for an opponent. ... New York's worst defeat before this game was a 123-100 loss to Denver on Dec. 16. ... Bulls F Andres Nocioni, making his first appearance at the United Center since Jan. 27, received a loud ovation when he checked in late in the first quarter. Nocioni had missed 28 of 29 games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot before returning Sunday at Toronto.