NEW YORK — The New York Knicks traded Zach Randolph and Jamal Crawford in separate deals yesterday, parting with their two top scorers to free up coveted salary-cap space for the summer of 2010.

Crawford was sent to Golden State for forward Al Harrington. Hours later, Randolph was shipped to the Los Angeles Clippers along with reserve guard Mardy Collins for Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas.

The Knicks gave up 40 points per game for a chance to cash in on something much bigger.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh has repeatedly said his goal was to get under the cap in time for a potentially sensational free-agent crop that could be headlined by LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

"I think that opening up cap space down the road for us is a big plus on our side and I hope our fans understand that that can give us an opportunity to make the team better according to the plan that I've outlined," Walsh said on a conference call. "So I'm trying to be true to what I said from day one, and that's what I'm doing."

Both Randolph and Crawford have deals that extend past 2010. Randolph is scheduled to make $17.3 million and Crawford $10.1 million in 2010-11. None of the players the Knicks brought back are under contract past 2010.

James, Wade and Bosh, all members of the U.S. Olympic team, could become free agents that summer.

YESTERDAY'S GAMES

BUCKS 104, KNICKS 87

Charlie Villanueva tied a season high with 20 points in his return after after missing four games with a strained left hamstring, to lead host Milwaukee over suddenly trade-depleted New York, which dressed the league-minimum eight players after trading away three players in a pair of deals earlier yesterday.

ROCKETS 103, WIZARDS 91

Tracy McGrady scored 14 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter, Yao Ming added 18 and the visiting Rockets ended the game with a 27-6 run, including a 13-0 spurt over the final 4:16 to beat the Wizards for the seventh straight time.

76ERS 89, CLIPPERS 88

Elton Brand hit a 15-footer with 57 seconds left and finished with 17 points in his first game against his former team, leading host Philadelphia over short-handed Los Angeles, which wasted a six-point lead with 2:50 left in the game.

MAGIC 100, PACERS 98

Dwight Howard had 24 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks, including a potential game-winning shot at the end of regulation, and Rashard Lewis broke a 98-all tie with jumper with 28 seconds left in overtime as visiting Orlando beat Indiana.

MAVERICKS 91, GRIZZLIES 76

Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and 10 rebounds, Jason Kidd contributed 18 points and 13 boards, and host Dallas used a 13-5 run for a 57-46 lead and were never threatened again in beating Memphis for its first home victory of the season.

SPURS 119, JAZZ 94

Roger Mason scored 29 points as host San Antonio, which made eight of its first nine 3-point attempts and finished 15-of-25 for the game, took 61-53 halftime lead and pulled away late in the third quarter in rolling past the Jazz for its fourth win in five games.

CELTICS 95, TIMBERWOLVES 78

Kevin Garnett, in his first game on the Target Center court since being traded before last season, scored 17 points, including two alley-oop dunks and two more jams during a 35-10 third quartet to help visiting Boston cruise past his former team Minnesota.

HAWKS 88, BOBCATS 83

Joe Johnson scored 30 points, Marvin Williams added 22, including a 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining for an 83-81 lead and host Atlanta never trailed again, holding on to beat Charlotte.

NETS 129, RAPTORS 127

Vince Carter scored 39 points against his former team, including a 3-pointer with 0.8 seconds remaining to force overtime and visiting New Jersey rallied from an 18-point, third-quarter deficit to beat Toronto.

HORNETS 105, THUNDER 80

David West scored 19 points, Chris Paul added 17 in the city where his NBA career began and New Orleans forced 26 turnovers in a triumphant return to Oklahoma City in handing the Thunder their 10th straight loss.

TRAIL BLAZERS 117, KINGS 94

Steve Blake made six 3-pointers and scored 20 points, and Greg Oden had seven points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes as visiting Portland pulled away in the third quarter to beat struggling Sacramento.

LAKERS 104, NUGGETS 90

Kobe Bryant scored 11 of his 29 points in the third quarter before sitting out the fourth, Andrew Bynum had 13 points and 13 rebounds, and host Los Angeles routed Denver.

BULLS 115, WARRIORS 110

Larry Hughes made five 3-pointers and finished with 26 points, and rookie Derrick Rose scored 23 of his 25 points in the second half to help visiting Chicago hold off Golden State.