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NEW YORK (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks were able to pull away in the fourth quarter without the help of the NBA's self-proclaimed best point guard.

With Stephon Marbury sitting out the fourth, the Knicks used a decisive run to post their most lopsided victory this season, a 108-90 triumph over the Milwaukee Bucks .

Since Marbury made the bold statement that he was NBA's best point man, the Knicks had gone a woeful 4-19, a stretch included Herb Williams taking over for coach Lenny Wilkens on January 22.

A majority of those losses were close games in which the Knicks failed to execute down the stretch. Of their 16 losses by six points or less, nine were in this brutal slide that dropped New York into last place in the Atlantic Division.

"It was definitely enjoyable to sit and watch in the fourth quarter," said Marbury, who had played at least 36 minutes in 25 of his previous 27 games. "We got a lot of stops in the fourth, stops that we needed and stops that didn't allow them (Milwaukee) to make runs."

Marbury played a season-low 31 minutes in this game. With him on the bench, the Knicks enjoyed one of their better defensive quarters of the season, allowing just 14 points while holding the Bucks to 3-of-17 shooting.

"You're always looking for good play out of whoever backs up Steph," Williams said. "It just gives you some versatility at that spot and gives Steph a little chance to get a little rest because lately we've been playing him big minutes."

Williams showed his own confidence in this one, opting to keep Marbury on the bench in the fourth quarter despite his team holding a slim 80-76 lead entering the final period.

In the fourth, Williams used Penny Hardaway as the shooting guard and Jamal Crawford at the point. The Knicks responded by opening the period with a 14-5 surge, capped by Sweetney's three-point play with 5:39 to go that opened a 94-81 lead.

"Anytime you have a group of guys that are playing well, you just got to go with them," Williams said of his decision. "Jamal was at the point guard, Penny was at the (shooting guard), Jerome (Williams) was at the (small forward), for a while there was Sweetney and Kurt. When Sweetney got in foul trouble, Tim Thomas came in. So anytime you have a flow and a group of guys playing well, regardless of the time and situation, you got to let those guys play."

With Marbury on the court, Crawford scored 18 of his 23 points through three. When he assumed the role of floor general down the stretch, he took just four shots, had a pair of assists and three of his career-high six steals.

"I came in as a point," Crawford said. "So I'm comfortable with doing that. So if can spot Steph some minutes at the point, that's fine with me.

"You got to change your mentality, especially your game because I look to score more. With him out, I can set guys up a lot more. I really enjoy playing with Steph and if he needs a break or breather, I'll be here to spot him some minutes."

Crawford led six players in double figures and had one of his better shooting nights. He was 9-of-16 from the floor and 5-of-9 from the arc as the Knicks won by more than 10 points for the just the fifth time all season.

The Knicks' previous biggest victory had been a 104-88 victory over Atlanta on November 23 in which Marbury played 34 minutes. In this one, Marbury finished with 14 points and nine assists.

Toni Kukoc scored 14 of his season-high 20 points in the first half and Desmond Mason added 16 of his 18 before halftime, but the Bucks trailed, 55-50. Neither player was a factor in the second half, when the Bucks shot 38 percent (15-of-39).

"In the fourth quarter, we didn't make plays and we didn't make stops and we didn't finish the game good," Mason said. "You can't win the game giving up 20 points off of turnovers. You can't win if you don't make baskets down the stretch."

The Bucks also played without Michael Redd , whose 3-pointer clinched their 101-96 win here on January 23. Redd missed his third straight game with a sprained left index finger.