New York, NY (My Sportsbook) - It's going to be a long season for the New York Knicks, and it started with a bitter defeat.

New York led by as many as 12 points in the first half and blew a five-point edge in the fourth quarter of its season-opening 86-77 setback to the Detroit Pistons.

Allan Houston scored 31 points in the losing effort. The Knicks don't have many options beyond Houston, with Latrell Sprewell out with a broken hand and Antonio McDyess sidelined for the season with a knee injury.

"We had a great opportunity and we let it slip," Houston said. "We shouldn't have lost a game where we played this well. We pretty much have to take every opportunity that we get."

The Pistons scored 15 straight points midway through the fourth -- capped by three straight treys by Chucky Atkins -- to take a 77-68 lead and put the game on ice.

The Knicks missed 13 straight shots in the midst of Detroit's run, and Houston was just 1-of-8 in the final quarter.

"I thought we fought hard enough to win," New York coach Don Chaney said. "We just couldn't hit the shots."

NAILON'S ARRIVAL FUELS TRADE RUMORS

Lee Nailon officially became a New York Knick on Wednesday night. When Nailon arrived in Philadelphia on Thursday to join the team at practice, he did so with trade rumors in tow.

Sprewell is rumored to be on the move and the arrival of Nailon, a 6-9 natural small forward, has done nothing to dispel those rumors.

"It's great having a bona fide small forward," Chaney said.

If Sprewell is not traded, the Knicks will have a glut of players at the small forward position when he returns in 10-14 days. The hot rumor making its rounds at the moment has Sprewell on his way to Portland, with Dale Davis and rounds at the moment has Sprewell on his way to Portland, with Dale Davis and Ruben Patterson coming back. On paper the deal makes sense.

"That's just speculation," Sprewell said. "I'm going to play, whether I'm here or if I'm somewhere else. I have a job to do. Whatever team I'm on I'm going to be one hundred percent committed to that team."

Sprewell discounted the connection between Nailon and his own status with the Knicks.

"I'm not worried about anything," said Sprewell. "When I come back I'm coming back to play. I'm coming back with somewhat of a chip on my shoulder. I'm going to be going crazy out there. I'm just looking forward to getting back and I think Lee is definitely going to help us.

"I think they were looking at him anyway in the summer. I don't think that has anything to do with my situation."

If Davis finds his way to the Knicks, he would immediately become one of the stronger centers in the Eastern Conference. Sprewell is a much better citizen on a playoff team than he is on a lottery-bound squad like the Knicks. Remember, he was a leader on New York when it advanced to the Finals and also in two playoff seasons subsequent to that.