Antonio Davis served a five-game suspension for rushing into the stands in defense of his wife, but his return to the court will have to wait.

Davis, who was set to start Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks, was a last-minute scratch because of lower back pain. Maurice Taylor started in his place.

Before the game, Davis gave no indication that his back was hurting. New York was blown out by the Hawks 120-101 for its eighth loss in nine games.

"You worry about your timing and you worry about your wind and stuff like that. I've been shooting the ball and running a little bit," Davis said. "It's just going out here now and forgetting that I've been out and try to get back in and make sure I know what's going on out there on the floor and that we're just not lost as a team. So that's my only thing."