RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME FLOW

NEW YORK (AP) _ Charlie Ward made an immediate difference in his return from the injured list, showing the Knicks how much they missed a true playmaker.

New York opened a big early lead and cruised past the Vancouver Grizzlies 111-86 Tuesday night.

Ward hit Larry Johnson with a crisp pass on a fast break just under four minutes into the game, and Johnson turned it into a dunk for a 13-0 lead. The Knicks stayed comfortably in front for the rest of the night as they ended a two-game losing streak with ease, shooting a season-high 62 percent.

Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston scored 22 points apiece, Patrick Ewing had 21 and Johnson and John Wallace added 13 each.

Ward contributed five points, six assists and a team-high seven rebounds to help the Knicks, the NBA's worst rebounding team, beat an opponent on the boards for the first time in eight games. New York outrebounded Vancouver 39-28.

Ward has been on the injured list since Feb. 19 with a broken little finger on his right hand, an injury he suffered against Charlotte on Feb. 7 but continued to play with. Coach Jeff Van Gundy used a big starting backcourt of Sprewell and Houston during Ward's absence, and the team went just 5-4. It had trouble getting into an offensive rhythm and broke 90 points only one time during that span.

All those offensive problems were nowhere to be found against the Grizzlies and their soft defense, as New York had no trouble maintaining a double-digit lead throughout.

Ewing had nine points and Sprewell eight in the first quarter, and Ewing was up to 17 on 7-for-8 shooting by halftime as the Knicks moved ahead 53-37.

Sprewell started the second half with a steal and a tomahawk dunk, and Ward gave New York a 70-54 lead by driving past Mike Bibby on an isolation play and converting an easy layup.

Ewing left for good with 1:38 remaining in the third quarter and the Knicks ahead by 19. Sprewell reached 20 points for the 27th time this season when he hit a corner jumper for a 92-68 lead with 9:08 left. Houston scored 20 or more for the 31st time.

Notes: To make room for Ward, the Knicks placed forward David Wingate on the injured list with a sore knee. ... The Grizzlies activated center Bryant Reeves, who had been out since Feb. 26 with a sore knee, and placed guard Milt Palacio on the injured list with back spasms. ... Knicks backup point guard Chris Childs early in the second quarter complaining of a headache and dizziness. He did not return. ... Vancouver lost its fifth straight to remain one victory shy of tying the franchise record of 19 set in 1997-98. Shareef Abdur-Rahim led the Grizzlies with 18 points. ... The Knicks improved to 11-3 in the first night of back-to-back games. They are 3-10 on the second night going into Wednesday's game at Washington _ the makeup of a game postponed by snowy weather on Jan. 25. ... A fan in a front-row seat brought a "Free Starks" sign.