By Jim Scott
DNAinfo Senior Editor
MANHATTAN — The fans at Madison Square Garden chanted Chris Paul's name when he was introduced for the New Orleans Hornets. But it was Knicks back up point guard Toney Douglas who stole the show.
Douglas scored 24 points in place of the injured Chancey Billups as New York pounded the Hornets 107-88 at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday night.
Douglas shot 10-for-13 from the floor and hit four 3-pointers for New York, thoroughly outplaying Paul. Douglas was in the starting line up for the injured Billups, who missed the game because of a thigh bruise he suffered in Tuesday's loss to the Orlando Magic.
"I talked to him this morning," Billups said of Douglas, the Daily News
reported. "I told him, 'Try not to defer so much to the guys. When you
call a plan, just run it no matter what people say or what you might
feel. Be in command out there'."
Amar'e Stoudemire scored 24 points and Carmelo Anthony added 22, his lowest point total in five games with the Knicks.
Paul racked up 10 assists, but was held to just four points on 2-for-7 shooting for New Orleans. Knicks fans are hoping New York makes a run at Paul when he becomes a free agent in 2012 with the hopes of pairing him with Stoudemire and Anthony.
Wednesday also marked the return of forward Jared Jeffries for New York. Jeffries was picked up offer waivers this week after having his contract bought out by the Houston Rockets. The 6-foot-11 defensive specialist played with the Knicks from 2006 until he was traded to Houston last February.