Knicks top Maccabi Tel Aviv 106-91 in game featuring bizarre delay after coach ejected

Knicks top Maccabi 106-91 after bizarre delay

NEW YORK — Nate Robinson scored 19 points, and the New York Knicks beat Maccabi Tel Aviv 106-91 Sunday in a game that featured a bizarre delay in the third quarter when the visiting coach refused to leave the floor after he was ejected.

The game was halted about 8 minutes when Pini Gershon continued to linger near Maccabi’s bench — a delay that included a rabbi trying to intervene by asking the NBA’s replacement referees calling the game to allow Gershon to stay.

Gershon eventually left after a lengthy discussion with the officials, his assistant coaches and NBA security personnel. A security official said Gershon told them he didn’t care if the game was stopped before he eventually agreed to leave.

David Lee added 14 points and 12 rebounds for New York.

Former Michigan State player Alan Anderson scored 20 points for Maccabi Tel Aviv. D’or Fischer added 19 points and 16 rebounds.

Apparently frustrated by the officiating, Maccabi picked up four technical fouls, including two on Gershon in a 53-second span of the third quarter. Strangely, the second came after he screamed at an official in front of his bench following an offensive foul called on the Knicks’ Al Harrington.

With fans chanting “Macc-ab-i!”, Gershon didn’t seem to be listening to any of the basketball officials. So Rabbi Yitchak Dovid Grossman, founder and dean of Migdal Ohr, tried to get involved by talking to the referees. But rules are clear that anyone who is ejected must leave the court, and finally Gershon did.

The Knicks also beat the Israeli team in a 2007 exhibition. Maccabi visits the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday.

The 2007 game drew the largest crowd for an exhibition at Madison Square Garden. That was a night contest, this game began at 1 p.m. EDT, a more convenient time for Maccabi’s fans overseas but it left the upper section of seats empty.

Maccabi’s roster featured Maciej Lampe, a second-round pick of the Knicks in 2003. He was traded early the next year to Phoenix, where he would later play for Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, in the deal for Stephon Marbury. Lampe finished with 14 points.

Darko Milicic didn’t play for the Knicks in the second half due to an upset stomach.

Proceeds from the game will benefit Migdal Ohr, the world’s largest orphanage.