SEATTLE (Ticker) -- After finally getting Antonio McDyess on the court, the New York Knicks open a five-game road trip Wednesday when they face the Seattle SuperSonics.
McDyess, who was acquired in a trade with Denver prior to last season, suffered a fractured left kneecap in a preseason game on October 12, 2002 and made his Knicks debut in Monday's 79-78 overtime loss to the Detroit Pistons.
The 6-9 forward was cleared to play after Monday morning's practice and entered the game to a standing ovation with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter and the Knicks leading by 13.
"I was real nervous when I first stepped out there," said McDyess, a former All-Star and member of the United States Olympic team. "The second half, I kind of calmed down. After 20 months, what more can I expect?"
In 13 minutes, McDyess made 2-of-4 shots from the free-throw line and 0-for-5 from the field. He also had three rebounds and one assist.
Allan Houston scored 20 points and Kurt Thomas added 16 for New York, which led Detroit by as many as 15 points in the second quarter.
After facing Seattle, New York will play Portland on Friday and Golden State on Saturday. The Knicks finish the trip with games vs. the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah.
The SuperSonics won for just the second time in six games with Saturday's 95-88 home victory over the Houston Rockets. Rashard Lewis, who missed Friday's loss at Utah following the death of his brother, scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
Seattle has won four of the last six home meetings with the Knicks.
