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ORLANDO, Fla. - Early in the fourth quarter, feeling better than he had at almost any time this season, Mario Hezonja was on the court waiting for play to resume after a timeout. While "Stuff," the Orlando Magic mascot, attempted an over-the-head halfcourt shot, Hezonja positioned himself near the rim, leaped and blocked the attempt, drawing loud boos from the Amway Center crowd.
When the mascot converted another attempt shortly after that, Hezonja greeted him with open arms, hugging him and winning over the crowd again. In a season where little seems to matter anymore, that mattered to Hezonja. While nights without ever getting on the court have become a fairly common occurrence for Hezonja this season, getting on the court in Orlando, where he spent the first three seasons of his career, mattered.
"I told him earlier in the season, I said the last game we play against Orlando, no matter where you are in the rotation, I promise I'll start you," Fizdale explained Wednesday morning. "Because he wants to come back here and play well and give it a shot. Why not?"
"Why not" is the operative phrase for the Knicks as they shamble through the final games of another lost season. Hezonja got the start in place of Luke Kornet,...