Newz Forum: BASKETBALL: Arroyo hurt in final pre-season game

NEW YORK (AP) -- Tim Thomas scored 19 of his 23 points in the third quarter, leading the New York Knicks past the Utah Jazz 89-83 Thursday night in the final preseason game for both clubs.

Thomas started the second half with a 3-pointer and made two more before coming out just before the fourth quarter. Trevor Ariza added 12 points and nine rebounds, and Stephon Marbury had eight points and seven rebounds for the Knicks, who won their last three preseason games.

Matt Harpring scored 17, and Carlos Boozer had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Jazz, who lost point guard Carlos Arroyo after he sprained his ankle late in the first quarter.

The Jazz gave Thomas good looks in the third quarter and he kept making shots. Marbury and Thomas went on a 12-0 run to give New York its first lead of the second half. Marbury started with a pair of free throws, and Thomas drove for a pair of layups, hit an open jumper and a wide open 3-pointer before Marbury finished with a 3.

After losing their lead in the third quarter, the Jazz appeared frustrated in the fourth, when Raja Bell and Mehmet Okur were whistled for technical fouls.

Arroyo led the Jazz early, twice drawing sighs from the crowd for fakes that left his defender behind. The second, past Marbury, was in the middle of a 10-0 run that put Utah ahead 19-14.

Near the end of the first quarter, Marbury drove past Arroyo and Jarron Collins. Arroyo got tangled up and went down clutching his left shin. He left with seven points and two assists.< ^Notes@: Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said he wasn't pleased with the conditioning of several players, including center Okur and Raul Lopez, who is rehabbing his right knee and was not with the team. "That's the No. 1 problem we've had is guys not being in shape," Sloan said. "If a guy hasn't been here a year, I can understand it." ... Allan Houston didn't play because of left knee pain. The Knicks guard missed the entire preseason schedule and might start the regular season on the injured list.