NBA Roundup: Isiah Thomas Farewell Tour Makes First Stop

Notes from yesterday's action in the National Basketball Association ...

• Knicks Bag Them Some Big Game. The good news, Knicks fans, is that Isiah Thomas is undefeated as your coach. The bad news? The Knicks almost blew a 19-point lead in his coaching debut, ending up winning in triple overtime, 118-117, over the Grizzlies. Thomas: "It was nothing we did wrong. It was everything they did right. They were making shots and taking it to the rim." Still. The Knicks are 1-0. Wow.

• One Triple Double, Extra Mustard. Meanwhile in East Rutherford, Jason Kidd had his 76th career triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds as the Nets topped the Toronto Hurryin' Raptors, 102-92. It was Kidd's eight points and four asists in the fourth quarter that sealed the deal.

• Year Of The Bull Abruptly Cancelled. Well, that didn't last long. One night after humiliating the defending champion Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls lost to Orlando 109-94. Dwight Howard had 27 points and 11 rebounds for the Magic.

• The Man Who Would Be King. The Kings' Mike Bibby was supposed to miss the first week of the season due to mallet thumb; an injury in which a finger tendon becomes detached from the bone, preventing the finger from fully extending. (Ugh.) Evidently his middle finger is still working however, because he started and drew two technicals in the fourth quarter for an ejection in Minnesota's 92-83 win over Sacramento on Wednesday.

• To The Land Of Dreams. Hornets 91, Celtics 87 ... and we have the makings of another feel-good sports story in New Orleans, folks! NOOCH!