The New York Knicks hosted the Philadelphia 76ers today. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni continues to prefer that Amar’e Stoudemire play power forward, alongside the closest thing to a legit center the team has, which lately has been Timofey Mozgov.

Chris Sheridan of ESPN reports:

Coach Mike D’Antoni revealed before the game that he envisions a day when Timofey Mozgov (three points, eight rebounds, three blocks) will be the Knicks’ full-time starter at center. “We would like to get to the point where we have a big lineup out there with Mozgov. We probably started a little too early, and I could have gone to it now, but again I think we’re making a lot out of nothing in the sense that lineups will change until we become a contender. And you have guys who are solidified in that position who have played together 4-5 years, then you have to stick with what you’ve got.

“Right now we’re in the process of building a team for the future and trying to make the playoffs at the same time, and guys will mature at different rates and they’ll have up and downs,” D’Antoni said. “It’s just a little scary when you start two rookies and trying to get into the playoffs against teams that have been together for a while, and you just have to be careful with it.”

I definitely don’t think Mozgov has the starting center spot on a permanent basis, but for the time being it sounds like the job is his to lose.

The AP reports:

Apparently not getting enough of a workout, Amare Stoudemire did a few push-ups before heading to the line for some late-game free throws.

Stoudemire wants the New York Knicks to be tougher, and on Sunday he simply overpowered the Philadelphia 76ers.

The All-Star forward matched his season high with 41 points on 17-of-21 shooting in the Knicks’ 117-103 victory, which gave them a split of an important home-and-home series.

“He understands the big moment and the stage,” Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni said. “That’s why he came to New York.”

Rookie Landry Fields added a career-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Knicks rebounded from a 100-98 loss Friday night in Philadelphia to snap a two-game losing streak and win for just the fourth time in 13 games.

Chris Sheridan of ESPN reports:

The only downer on a day of domination for Amare Stoudemire was the technical foul he picked up from referee Bob Delaney for skipping in frustration after he was whistled for a reaching-in foul.

To Stoudemire, it was like being ticketed for driving 56 mph in a 55 mph zone.

To Delaney, a former New Jersey state trooper, it was a violation that probably only merited a warning.

At least that’s what Stoudemire said Delaney told him.

“After talking to him, he really didn’t think that was a bad play on my part. He felt more lenient, toward I might get that one taken away. So I’ll see how it goes,” Stoudemire said after scoring 41 points on 17-for-21 shooting in one of the best games he has played all season, a 117-103 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers that kept the Knicks from falling to .500.

The technical he picked up Sunday afternoon was Stoudemire’s 14th of the season, moving him within two techs of the dreaded No. 16 — which brings with it an automatic one-game suspension, as would technical fouls No. 18, 20, 22, etc.

Houston Rockets guard Aaron Brooks has been suspended for tomorrow night’s game in Denver for conduct detrimental to the team.

The team will have no further comment regarding this matter.

According to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, “Brooks was taken out of Saturday’s overtime win against the Memphis Grizzlies with 6:45 left in the fourth quarter, but instead of heading to the bench, went to the locker room. Brooks has said he had been frustrated with his role coming off the bench and with his play, but had gotten over it. He was not available for comment.”

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

The Suns have signed guard Zabian Dowdell (ZAY-bee-in dow-DELL) through the remainder of the 2010-11 season, the team has announced.

The 6-3, 191-pound Dowdell has appeared in five games with the Suns this season over the course of two 10-day contracts, recording averages of 3.2 points, 1.8 assists and 1.0 steals in 10.0 minutes per game. Dowdell also spent training camp with the Suns in 2010 before being waived on Oct. 19.

Dowdell played 18 games of the 2010-11 season with the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League, where he averaged 14.5 points, 4.6 assists and 2.1 rebounds in 29.3 minutes in 18 starts.  Dowdell, who also spent 10 games with the 66ers in 2009-10, saw both his scoring and assist averages increase in 2010-11.

A four-year performer at Virginia Tech (2003-07), Dowdell was a member of the Suns’ 2009 and 2010 Las Vegas Summer League entries.  As a Hokie, he was a 2006-07 All-ACC First Team honoree and a two-time All-ACC Defensive Team selection.

The AP reports:

Richard Hamilton thought it was a joke when Pistons coach John Kuester told him to check in for the first time since Jan. 10.

Hamilton put on a performance that proved to Detroit—and the rest of the NBA—that he can be a solid contributor no matter the length of the layoff or where he might land if he’s traded at the deadline.

Hamilton scored 15 points in his first action in 13 games and Tracy McGrady added 20, leading the Pistons over the Milwaukee Bucks 89-78 on Saturday night.

“I thought it was a joke. Like I said, I had no idea. No idea. Just yesterday I was inactive. Like I said I thought that was a sign that was my last time ever playing in a Piston uniform, you know?” Hamilton said.