1. Knicks 151, Pistons 145 (3 OT): For the second time this season, the Knicks played a triple-overtime game, and for the second time this season, they won. (Remember when they almost blew that opening-night game against Memphis?) Channing Frye hit a buzzer-beating shot to force the third extra session, and the biggest of Jamal Crawford's 29 points helped lift the Knicks. With the suspensions from the Denver brawl forcing Coach Isiah Thomas to use a smaller rotation, the Knicks seem to be playing better. Leave it to them to discover their best personnel arrangements by accident.
   
2. Rockets 96, Nets 71: Each team was playing without a big man, but only the Rockets showed the capability to score. Even wihtout Yao Ming, Houston had too much firepower against the Nenad Krstic-less Nets. Watching the big three of Richard Jefferson, Jason Kidd and Vince Carter created visions of three blind mice. They had only 34 points among them on 11-for-40 shooting. The 25-point loss was the largest the Nets' largest this season.


3. Senators 2, Islanders 0: So Rick DiPietro does give up goals. His perfect streak was stopped after more than 156 minutes. The fans booed Alexei Yashin whenever he touched the puck, but that didn't help the Islanders create more than 18 shots on goal.

Photograph of the Knicks' Jamal Crawford shooting during double overtime by Julie Jacobson/AP