Bulls general manager John Paxson didn't attend Tuesday's game, but he supported his players and didn't think they were running up the score on the Knicks.

"I do think NBA players have jobs to do on the court regardless of the score," Paxson said. "We have a 24-second shot clock and as long as a team has possession of the ball and that clock is on, those players have a responsibility to play the game. Were our players supposed to kick the ball in the stands or hand it to the New York players and let them shoot layups so the game could be closer?

"I was around when the Bulls went through the years winning 15 and 17 games and recall many losses by 30 or 40 points. Not once did I ever hear a Bulls team complain about another team running up the score during that time."