The New York Knicks are well aware of Mike D'Antoni's strong desire to coach the Chicago Bulls, as well as Chicago's strong interest in hiring D'Antoni.
They're simply ignoring all that.
NBA coaching sources told ESPN.com on Wednesday that the Knicks continue to regard D'Antoni as their No. 1 target to replace Isiah Thomas and are preparing a "staggering" financial offer they hope will prove too steep for Chicago to compete with, thus convincing D'Antoni to spurn the Bulls.
It was widely assumed in coaching circles -- and even by the Knicks to some degree -- that New York's involvement was pursued by the D'Antoni camp mostly to get Chicago to increase its offer. But sources close to the situation were stressing Wednesday night that the rough monetary estimates in circulation from the Knicks, believed to be $6 million or more annually, are too substantial not to make them a real threat to the Bulls.
Yet sources maintain that Chicago remains D'Antoni's preferred destination and the favorite to land him, now one .....
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Rashard Lewis was due for a breakout game. It couldn't have come at a better time for the Orlando Magic.
Lewis, Orlando's big offseason acquisition, scored a career playoff-high 33 points and the Magic beat the Detroit Pistons 111-86 on Wednesday night to gain a little momentum in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Detroit still leads the series 2-1, though they suffered a tough injury. All-Star guard Chauncey Billups strained his right hamstring early in the first quarter and didn't return. The Pistons were hopeful he could play in Game 4 Saturday in Orlando, but planned to re-evaluate him again Thursday.
Lewis was shooting 36 percent from the field in the first two games of the series, including 2-of-12 from 3-point range. He shot 11-of-15 on Wednesday, 5-of-6 from behind the arc, and scored 12 of Orlando's last 14 points as the Magic took a 54-42 halftime lead.
"I made my first couple and really felt like I was going to have it going tonight," said Lewis, who came to the Magic in a trade w.....
The New York Knicks are well aware of Mike D'Antoni's strong desire to coach the Chicago Bulls, as well as Chicago's strong interest in hiring D'Antoni.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Rashard Lewis was due for a breakout game. It couldn't have come at a better time for the Orlando Magic.
