NEW YORK TIMES, October 31, 2001

Celebrities Turn Out for Jordan's Comeback

By STEVE POPPER

The chance to watch Michael Jordan brought a contingent of celebrities to Madison Square Garden that was large even by the see-and-be- seen standards of the Garden.

The center-court seats were taken by Bill Bradley, Mark Messier and Joe Frazier, while other celebrities were scattered around the floor. MTV's Carson Daly and the actors Kevin Bacon, David Spade and Richard Lewis were joined by the Garden regulars Spike Lee, Woody Allen, Kevin Kline and Diane Sawyer.

Perhaps most notable was the courtside seat next to Spike Lee. Lee drew an anonymous bid of $101,300 in auctioning off his second ticket to benefit the Fire Department's Widows and Children's Fund.

The seat was then given to 12-year- old Jessica DeRubbio, the daughter of David DeRubbio of Engine Company 226 in Brooklyn, who died at age 38 in the World Trade Center collapse. She wore a Knick jersey and an F.D.N.Y. cap.

Defending Against Jordan

For nearly the entire game, the Knicks had been content to play Michael Jordan one on one. They sent Latrell Sprewell after him and let him do the best he could.

But in the final minutes of the game, Jeff Van Gundy finally provided the help for the Knicks defense that it needed. There was, however, no falling back into a zone defense, even though it is now allowed.

"We definitely forced their team to make other guys make plays other than Michael," Sprewell said. "It just worked out for us tonight."

On the final sequence, Jordan tried a quick entry pass that was stolen by Allan Houston. The Wizards scrambled and stole the ball back, but Jordan missed on a 3-point field goal that could have tied the game with 18 seconds left.

"We're a team that first and foremost does it on the defensive end," Mark Jackson said. "We wanted to attempt to get the ball out of his hands."

Jordan shot 7 for 21 and had 19 points. "I think that I could never really get in a rhythm," Jordan said.

Jordan settled for an assortment of jump shots. He ran the offense from the perimeter, finding cutters with entry passes that almost invariably ended up bobbled or kicked. And he rarely ventured into the post, opting for quick hits from the perimeter.