Knicks Tip Pacers With Clutch Plays

NBA

John Starks made two clutch plays in the final 3-1/2 minutes to help lift the New York Knicks over the visiting Indiana Pacers 102-99 Wednesday.

Starks finished with 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting, including 4 of 6 from 3-point range, and had a key assist in the final two minutes.

Reggie Miller led Indiana with 25 points, but missed open 3-pointers with 1:04 and 50 seconds left when the Pacers had a chance to creep within two points. Miller finished 8 of 22 from the field.

Patrick Ewing scored 31 points for New York, which won its fourth in a row. The victory moved the Knicks within a game of the Pacers for the third seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Knicks 102, Pacers 99

Indiana (99) - D.Davis 6-6 4-5 16, McKey 9-12 2-2 20, Smits 1-7 1-2 3, Miller 8-22 6-7 25, Jackson 4-7 2-3 13, A.Davis 4-8 0-0 8, Caldwell 0-3 0-0 0, Workman 2-3 0-2 4, Pierce 3-8 4-4 10, Schintzius 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-76 19-25 99.

New York (102) - Reid 4-6 2-4 10, Mason 7-9 2-2 16, Ewing 9-17 13-15 31, Starks 6-8 3-3 19, Harper 4-10 2-2 12, Williams 1-5 5-6 7, Anderson 1-4 2-3 4, Ward 1-3 0-0 3. Totals 33-62 29-35 102.

Indiana 27 16 22 34 - 99

New York 19 23 26 34 - 102

3-Point goals-Indiana 6-15 (Jackson 3-4, Miller 3-10, Pierce 0-1), New York 7-13 (Starks 4-6, Harper 2-4, Ward 1-3). Fouled out-Smits. Rebounds-Indiana 42 (D.Davis 10), New York 38 (Mason 9). Assists-Indiana 18 (Miller 8), New York 29 (Harper 9). Total fouls-Indiana 27, New York 21. Technicals-Pierce, Miller, Ewing. A-19,763 (19,763).

Jazz 107, 76ers 84

Salt Lake City

Karl Malone scored 24 and grabbed 10 rebounds as Utah handed Philadelphia its fifth straight loss.

The Sixers’ starting backcourt - Jerry Stackhouse and Vernon Maxwell - was ejected, as was Utah’s Jeff Hornacek.

Philadelphia (84) - Weatherspoon 5-11 4-4 14, Alston 0-1 1-2 1, Pinckney 0-4 2-4 2, Stackhouse 0-5 4-6 4, Maxwell 2-7 0-0 6, Higgins 5-15 4-4 18, Ruffin 2-7 4-6 9, Massenburg 5-11 3-6 13, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Sutton 4-11 0-0 11, Walters 2-2 0-0 4, Dumas 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 26-76 22-32 84.

Utah (107) - Benoit 4-10 5-7 13, Malone 11-18 2-2 24, Spencer 0-1 0-0 0, Hornacek 3-6 4-4 10, Stockton 5-10 2-3 12, Eisley 2-4 4-4 8, Keefe 2-4 1-2 5, Ostertag 5-8 1-1 11, Morris 6-10 1-1 14, Carr 2-6 2-2 6, Russell 1-2 2-2 4, Foster 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 41-79 24-28 107.

Philadelphia 19 20 24 21 - 84

Utah 18 31 36 22 - 107

3-Point goals-Philadelphia 10-26 (Higgins 4-9, Sutton 3-7, Maxwell 2-5, Ruffin 1-4, Stackhouse 0-1), Utah 1-8 (Morris 1-2, Malone 0-1, Stockton 0-2, Benoit 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Philadelphia 48 (Massenburg 8), Utah 54 (Malone 10). Assists-Philadelphia 16 (Weatherspoon 5), Utah 29 (Stockton 15). Total fouls- Philadelphia 22, Utah 22. Technicals-Maxwell 2, Keefe, Malone, Hornacek, Philadelaphia illegal defense. Flagarnt foul-Stackhouse. Ejections-Stackhouse, Maxwell, Hornacek. A-19,725 (19,911).

Clippers 110, Timberwolves 96

Los Angeles

Reserve Terry Dehere scored 23 as Los Angeles defeated Minnesota.

Minnesota (96) - Garnett 6-11 0-0 12, Mitchell 1-6 0-0 2, Gugliotta 6-18 9-10 21, Martin 2-8 3-3 7, Rider 13-20 6-6 33, Davis 0-4 3-4 3, Porter 6-10 0-0 14, Riley 0-2 0-0 0, Bragg 2-2 0-0 4. Totals 36-81 21-23 96.

L.a. Clippers (110) - Vaught 8-11 0-0 16, Rogers 8-15 1-3 20, Williams 4-5 2-2 10, Richardson 1-3 0-0 3, Sealy 5-8 2-2 13, Roberts 4-7 0-0 8, Dehere 6-10 8-8 23, Outlaw 2-3 1-2 5, Murray 4-8 0-0 9, Piatkowski 1-3 0-0 3, Harvey 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 43-75 14-17 110.

Minnesota 23 27 22 24 - 96

L.A. Clippers 27 29 23 31 - 110

3-Point goals-Minnesota 3-8 (Porter 2-3, Rider 1-3, Martin 0-2), Los Angeles 10-18 (Dehere 3-5, Rogers 3-5, Sealy 1-1, Richardson 1-2, Piatkowski 1-2, Murray 1-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Minnesota 47 (Garnett 11), Los Angeles 35 (Vaught 10). Assists-Minnesota 15 (Martin 4), Los Angeles 22 (Richardson 7). Total fouls-Minnesota 16, Los Angeles 17. Technical-Williams. A-6,457 (16,021).

Kings 122, Bucks 97

Milwaukee

Brian Grant scored a career-high 30 and Olden Polynice added 20 to power Sacramento over Milwaukee. It was the Bucks’ ninth straight defeat and ended the Kings’ three-game losing streak.

The Bucks were led by Johnny Newman with 19 points.

Sacramento (122) - Grant 11-15 8-8 30, Polynice 7-11 6-9 20, Causwell 2-6 1-2 5, Edney 6-14 1-1 15, Richmond 3-11 5-5 13, Hurley 2-4 2-2 6, Smith 3-5 0-4 4, Simmons 5-8 1-2 13, McDaniel 0-0 8-8 8, Williamson 2-5 2-2 6. Totals 41-79 34-43 122.

Milwaukee (97) - Baker 7-14 1-2 15, Robinson 4-13 5-7 13, Benjamin 2-5 0-0 4, Douglas 1-4 3-4 5, Newman 6-12 6-6 19, Cummings 7-11 0-0 14, Respert 4-9 2-2 11, Mayberry 3-4 0-1 7, Conlon 1-2 2-4 4, Keys 1-2 0-0 2, Peplowski 1-1 1-2 3. Totals 37-77 20-28 97.

Sacramento 29 28 29 36 - 122

Milwaukee 26 32 14 25 - 97

3-Point goals-Sacramento 6-16 (Edney 2-3, Simmons 2-3, Richmond 2-7, Grant 0-1, Hurley 0-2), Milwaukee 3-13 (Mayberry 1-2, Newman 1-3, Respert 1-5, Cummings 0-1, Robinson 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Sacramento 51 (Polynice 10), Milwaukee 44 (Baker 9). Assists- Sacramento 23 (Edney 9), Milwaukee 20 (Robinson, Mayberry 6). Total fouls-Sacramento 25, Milwaukee 31. Technicals-Conlon, Sacramento illegal defense. A-13,176 (18,633).

Hawks 98, Grizzlies 93

Atlanta

Steve Smith scored 19 - 15 on 3-pointers - in the final 4:51 as Atlanta handed Vancouver its 16th straight defeat.

Bryant Reeves scored 20 points and had 11 rebounds for Vancouver.

Vancouver (93) - Wilkins 4-12 0-0 8, Amaya 4-6 0-0 8, Reeves 8-16 4-5 20, B.Edwards 2-6 1-4 5, Murdock 5-8 2-2 13, Avent 0-0 0-0 0, Moten 3-10 4-4 10, Scott 8-12 0-0 18, Manning 1-3 0-0 2, King 4-7 0-0 9. Totals 39-80 11-15 93.

Atlanta (98) - Augmon 4-8 1-2 9, Long 6-13 0-0 12, Laettner 5-9 1-2 11, Smith 8-16 4-4 26, Blaylock 5-14 1-2 12, Rooks 1-3 2-2 4, Jordan 0-0 2-2 2, Ehlo 2-2 1-1 6, Henderson 5-10 6-7 16, Bullard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 36-75 18-22 98.

Vancouver 23 28 18 24 - 93

Atlanta 23 25 16 34 - 98

3-Point goals-Vancouver 4-20 (Scott 2-6, Murdock 1-2, King 1-2, B.Edwards 0-1, Moten 0-3, Wilkins 0-6), Atlanta 8-20 (Smith 6-9, Ehlo 1-1, Blaylock 1-10). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Vancouver 37 (Reeves 11), Atlanta 51 (Long 15). Assists-Vancouver 21 (Murdock 9), Atlanta 20 (Blaylock 8). Total fouls-Vancouver 22, Atlanta 15. A-8,297 (16,378).

Heat 102, Pistons 93

Miami

Reserve forward Chris Gatling scored 24 to lead surging Miami past Detroit. The Heat have won six of their last seven to move within a half-game of Charlotte for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Detroit (93) - Hill 5-11 10-11 21, Thorpe 2-4 3-4 7, West 7-8 1-1 15, Houston 7-23 4-4 21, Dumars 4-14 1-2 10, Curry 1-3 1-1 3, Mills 2-9 4-4 8, Hunter 0-2 0-0 0, Ratliff 3-3 2-2 8. Totals 31-77 26-29 93.

Miami (102) - Williams 5-13 1-3 12, Thomas 1-3 2-2 4, Mourning 8-10 8-11 24, Chapman 8-16 1-2 20, Hardaway 5-16 2-3 14, Askins 1-2 0-0 2, Gatling 8-15 8-8 24, Smith 0-1 0-0 0, Corbin 1-1 20-0 2, Lenard 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 37-77 22-29 102.

Detroit 19 22 31 21 - 93

Miami 24 18 35 25 - 102

3-Point goals-Detroit 5-22 (Houston 3-9, Hill 1-2, Dumars 1-7, Curry 0-1, Hunter 0-1, Mills 0-2), Miami 6-17 (Chapman 3-4, Hardaway 2-8, Williams 1-3, Askins 0-1, Smith 0-1). Fouled out-West. Rebounds-Detroit 47 (Hill 12), Miami 49 (Mourning 11). Assists-Detroit 15 (Hill 7), Miami 26 (Hardaway 12). Total fouls-Detroit 24, Miami 25. Technicals-Hill, Gatling. A-15,200 (15,200).

Spurs 112, Bullets 101

Landover, Md.

David Robinson scored 33 and San Antonio shot a season-high 60.5 percent from the field as the Spurs extended their win streak to 11 games.

Washington’s Gheorghe Muresan scored 30 in the loss.

Charles Smith scored 18 and Avery Johnson had 19 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who have won six straight games against the Bullets, dating to 1992.

San Antonio (112) - Elliott 5-8 1-2 11, Smith 9-14 0-0 18, Robinson 13-21 7-10 33, Del Negro 3-12 2-2 9, Johnson 6-9 7-8 19, Person 5-5 0-0 12, Perdue 4-5 0-1 8, Rivers 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 46-76 17-23 112.

Washington (101) - Howard 8-17 3-4 19, Wallace 4-8 1-1 9, Muresan 14-18 2-5 30, Cheaney 9-20 2-4 20, B.Price 3-5 3-5 10, Legler 0-3 1-1 1, McIlvaine 0-1 0-0 0, Whitney 3-5 0-0 7, Eackles 1-5 0-0 3, McCann 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 43-84 12-20 101.

San Antonio 31 30 30 21 - 112

Washington 28 28 29 16 - 101

3-Point goals-San Antonio 3-9 (Person 2-2, Del Negro 1-5, Rivers 0-1, Johnson 0-1), Washington 3-14 (Whitney 1-1, B.Price 1-3, Eackles 1-3, Wallace 0-1, Legler 0-2, Cheaney 0-4). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-San Antonio 42 (Perdue 12), Washington 43 (Muresan 12). Assists-San Antonio 24 (Johnson 10), Washington 20 (Howard 6). Total fouls-San Antonio 18, Washington 21. Technicals-Wallace 2, San Antonio illegal defense. Ejection-Wallace. A-15,123 (18,756).

Magic 112, Celtics 90

Boston

Anfernee Hardaway scored 35 and Shaquille O’Neal added 28 as Orlando posted its 17th win in 20 games.

O’Neal added 14 rebounds and led the Magic with a career-high eight assists.

The Celtics were led by David Wesley with 22 points and Rick Fox and Dee Brown with 12 each.

Orlando (112) - Scott 2-8 0-0 6, Grant 9-16 1-2 19, O’Neal 12-18 4-10 28, Hardaway 14-19 7-10 35, Bowie 3-7 0-0 6, Koncak 0-1 0-0 0, Thompson 3-6 0-0 8, Wolf 2-4 0-0 4, Royal 2-3 2-2 6, Vaughn 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 47-84 14-24 112.

Boston (90) - Ellison 2-8 0-0 4, Fox 5-12 2-2 12, Montross 3-5 0-0 6, Wesley 7-14 5-6 22, Minor 2-5 0-0 4, Williams 4-13 2-6 10, Brown 6-12 0-0 12, Day 2-9 1-1 5, Barros 3-8 0-0 7, Lister 0-0 0-0 0, Hamilton 1-4 1-4 3, Burrough 2-4 1-2 5. Totals 37-94 12-21 90.

Orlando 29 32 19 32 - 112

Boston 20 27 13 30 - 90

3-Point goals-Orlando 4-13 (Thompson 2-5, Scott 2-6, Hardaway 0-2), Boston 4-13 (Wesley 3-5, Barros 1-2, Fox 0-2, Brown 0-2, Day 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- Orlando 58 (O’Neal 14), Boston 55 (Ellison 13). Assists- Orlando 28 (O’Neal 8), Boston 19 (Wesley 7). Total fouls- Orlando 17, Boston 21. A-18,624 (18,624).

Raptors 107, Hornets 89

Toronto

Damon Stoudamire had 24 points and 10 assists and Carlos Rogers added a career-high 24 points as Toronto beat Charlotte Toronto wiped away a four-game losing streak.

Charlotte (89) - Johnson 6-13 7-7 19, Geiger 5-9 2-3 12, Parish 1-4 2-2 4, Hancock 5-8 2-2 12, Goldwire 6-16 0-2 15, Curry 3-11 2-2 10, Addison 2-7 0-0 4, Zidek 2-3 0-0 4, Myers 1-8 5-6 7, Adams 1-4 0-0 2. Totals 32-83 20-24 89.

Toronto (107) - Rogers 10-15 4-6 24, Tabak 9-11 0-2 18, Miller 2-7 0-0 4, Murray 3-8 2-2 10, Stoudamire 9-19 3-4 24, Christie 2-5 0-0 5, Earl 3-6 0-0 6, King 4-5 2-4 11, Esposito 0-1 1-2 1, Lewis 1-1 0-0 2, Whitfield 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 44-79 12-20 107.

Charlotte 23 22 23 21 - 89

Toronto 30 22 27 28 - 107

3-Point goals-Charlotte 5-22 (Goldwire 3-9, Curry 2-9, Johnson 0-1, Myers 0-1, Adams 0-2), Toronto 7-17 (Stoudamire 3-5, Murray 2-4, King 1-1, Christie 1-2, Miller 0-1, Esposito 0-1, Rogers 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Charlotte 49 (Myers 10), Toronto 49 (Miller 15). Assists-Charlotte 15 (Johnson 5), Toronto 27 (Stoudamire 10). Total fouls-Charlotte 19, Toronto 26. A-22,033 (22,911).