On the kind of rainy night for which Knicks' management never saved, there were 1,850 empty seats and 17,913 pairs of dry eyes at what likely was John Stockton's final Madison Square Garden appearance.

Disgust beat sentimentality down the floor as did the Jazz against the Knicks 108-87. Boos came down in sporadic cloudbursts, pausing for a polite hand as Stockton, after seven assists and 12 points in evenly divided minutes with Mark Jackson, left the floor.

One visit a year from the Jazz never could be enough to fuel a New York rivalry with an unassuming, precise point guard called by Bob Cousy - the definer of the position - the best there ever was. And, regardless, Knick fans likely have already emptied their tear ducts over the 23 point guards who have played for the franchise since Stockton made his NBA debut in 1984.