AUBURN HILLS -- Jordan Hill's rookie season may have begun last night.
The seldom-used 6-foot-10 Hill was on the court in the fourth quarter for the Knicks' huge comeback that saw a 20-point deficit sliced to two points in the final minute of their 94-90 loss to the Pistons.
Hill finished with six points, making 3 of 5 shots, and secured three rebounds. Sources have indicated D'Antoni is leaning toward giving Hill a real look now. Hill has played mostly in garbage time this season.
"We got good minutes from Jordan, which is good," D'Antoni said. "We had guys who were trying and playing the right way. His energy, he was athletic. He played well. If he continues like that, he'll get some more time."
Al Harrington, still bothered by fluid in the back of his knee, shot just 3 of 9. Hill, the eighth pick in the draft, came in for Harrington late in the third quarter.
Though the Knicks were down 20, this was a move that has been in the planning stages. The coaching staff has been concerned about Harrington's defense and have thought of reducing Harrington's minutes and giving them to Hill, whose selection has been critiqued up and down because of the solid seasons of Brandon Jennings and DeMar DeRozan, who were selected after Hill.
"It felt really good," Hill said. "It's my opportunity, my shot."
Hill and Nate Robinson led the fourth-quarter comeback. Robinson exploded for 11 points, making three 3-pointers, getting hot like the night he returned to the Knicks' rotation and score 41 against Atlanta. Robinson's trey made it 90-85 with 1:21 left, then Danilo Gallinari followed with a left-corner jumper, and it was 92-90 with 43 seconds left.
But the comeback died when Robinson missed a wild runner with 18 seconds left and the ball went out of bounds off David Lee after a video review.
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