Without their best 3-point shooter -LRB- Quentin Richardson -RRB- , their two best defenders -LRB- Richardson and Jared Jeffries -RRB- , their best pace changer -LRB- Nate Robinson -RRB- and their No . 2 point guard -LRB- Francis -RRB- , the Knicks ground out overtime victories over Utah and Charlotte and routed Chicago before losing steam and falling to Philadelphia .