National Basketball Association

Knicks, Hawks trade punches

Published Jan. 29, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Knicks' Shawne Williams and Hawks' Marvin Williams face the threat of a multiple-game suspension after an ugly final-minute altercation Friday in New York's 111-102 loss to Atlanta.

Both Shawne Williams and Marvin Williams were ejected after the pair appeared to trade punches with 43.7 seconds left on the clock.

"I was protecting myself," said Shawne Williams, who is rebuilding his career with New York after a series of drug offenses.

"Coming across halfcourt, he bumped me, I bumped him and he mushed me in the back of the head. I wasn't going to fight him. I wanted to let him know I wasn't backing down. For him to swing at me, that's different. I feel I didn't swing back and restrained myself."

Asked if he feared suspension, he added, "Any person would be worried. I got full confidence in the replay. They could see I really didn't throw punches, I think. I don't know."

Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni defended the player, saying, "It seems like in my opinion he didn't throw a punch, which is good. It looked like he held up and backed off. Hopefully it will work out."

The flare-up overshadowed a separate concern for New York, with Amar'e Stoudemire doubtful for Sunday's game against the Detroit Pistons at MSG.

The star "tweaked" his right knee when Marvin Williams landed on it after tripping during the third quarter.

"I tried not to put too much pressure on it. It's sore," said Stoudemire, who returned to court in the fourth but could not lead the Knicks to a follow-up win after the defeat of the Miami Heat on Thursday night.