Maybe facing the 1-10 Wizards (for whom Eddie Jordan may have coached his final game) helped, yet in their quest to start putting the past behind, the Knicks took one small step forward with a 122-117 victory that snapped a three-game losing streak.

Richardson scored a season-high 34, 18 during a 6-for-7 first quarter outside the arc. Robinson scored eight of his season-high 27 in the final quarter, David Lee double-doubled (22 points, 12 rebounds), Wilson Chandler scored 23 and Chris Duhon handed out 11 dimes.

With just eight players dressed and Jerome James (in lieu of the now permanently benched Stephon Marbury) anchored to the bench, it was stat-padding night for the Knicks.

But it was a victory they had to fight for as they handed the Wizards their fifth straight loss.

Up by as many as 14 in the third quarter, the Knicks squandered what remained of that lead by surrendering a 15-4 run straddling the final two quarters when Washington built a 96-93 lead.

And by the final quarter, with reserves Anthony Roberson and Malik Rose (a combined 3-for-15) both ineffective, coach Mike D'Antoni stretched his starting five out to the very end.

It found just enough energy to finish.

The Knicks wiped out the Wizards' lead with a 12-3 run that featured a penetrating drive plus two assists by Duhon, the second for a transition jumper by Richardson, who then fed Robinson for a run-punctuating three that made it 107-101 with 5:33 to play.

Twice thereafter the Wiz closed to within two, but both times Robinson answered, first with a step-back three, then a driving teardrop off glass, allowing the Knicks to look ahead to Tuesday's visit by LeBron James and Cleveland, when they expect newcomers Al Harrington, Cuttino Mobley and Tim Thomas to debut.

E-mail: adamek@northjersey.com