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Wednesday, Apr. 12 7:30pm ET
Sprewell scores six of 21 in overtime | |||||
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 GAME FLOW
NEW YORK (AP) -- After their gut-wrenching loss in Miami last weekend, winning the Atlantic Division seemed out of the question for the New York Knicks. Just a few days later, it's not such so farfetched. Latrell Sprewell scored 21 points and Larry Johnson atoned for two late missed free throws by playing tight defense on Keith Van Horn on the game's final play as the Knicks edged the New Jersey Nets 91-89 in overtime Wednesday night. With Miami losing by 17 points at Detroit, the victory pulled the Knicks back within one game of the Heat in the Atlantic Division. Wasn't the division race supposedly settled Sunday? Didn't the Knicks all but admit they'd never catch the Heat? "Pretty much we did," Sprewell said. "They have the tiebreaker and they were three games ahead of us. They were going to have to really lose some games down the stretch, which they're doing, and we really couldn't anticipate that." In essence, the Knicks are actually two games back, since Miami owns the tiebreaker edge. But New York has the easier remaining schedule, playing Toronto, Cleveland, Detroit and Boston over the season's final week while the Heat must play Indiana, Orlando, Toronto and Charlotte. "We all know where everybody is. We're watching them, they're watching us. We knew they lost and we needed this win," New York's Chris Childs said. "All we can worry about is us. Pat Riley has to worry about his team more than we do." Sprewell scored six of the Knicks' first eight points in overtime, but then lost his dribble and committed his fourth turnover of the night. Consecutive jumpers by Johnny Newman and Lucious Harris tied it at 89 with 42 seconds left, and Charlie Ward gave the lead back to the Knicks by making two foul shots with 35 seconds left. Elliot Perry then lost his dribble and Johnson came up with the steal, but Johnson missed both foul shots with 15 seconds left to give the Nets one final chance. Tightly guarded by Johnson, Van Horn could only manage an airball jump hook with three seconds left. "LJ was riding me pretty good," Van Horn said. "They would never call (a foul), not in the Garden." The Knicks rebounded Van Horn's miss and ran out the clock to escape with a victory that was harder than it should have been. The Nets were missing three starters, playing the second night of back-to-back games and coming in with a seven-game losing streak. Ewing added 18 points, Ward had 13 points, seven rebounds and five assists, and Allan Houston scored 12 points. Van Horn led the Nets with 32 points and Newman added 16. "The bottom line is that even though it was ugly and it wasn't a classic performance, we did find a way to get it done," Houston said. The Nets had a chance to win at the end of regulation, but Jamie Feick was unable to convert a 3-footer off the glass just before the buzzer. On the previous possession, Ewing had a chance to give the Knicks a lead but missed one of two free throws for an 80-80 tie. The Nets led 52-40 at halftime, and Kendall Gill hit a jumper as the shot clock expired 2{ minutes into the third quarter to make it 61-45. Shortly thereafter the Knicks seemed to realize how pathetic they looked, and started scrambling for loose balls, grabbing offensive rebounds and pushing the ball upcourt. "In the first half I don't think we even tried," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. Ewing hit two free throws with 2:31 left in the third to start the Knicks on a 10-0 run that pulled them to 67-66 early in the fourth, and they finally took their first lead since the first quarter on a jumper in transition by Houston with 9:21 left to make it 70-69. Game notesNew Jersey's eight-game losing streak is its longest of the season. ... The Nets are 10-22 in games decided by five points or less. ... The Knicks won the season series 3-1. ... The Nets have lost seven straight at the Garden. ... Gill, one of the best defenders in the league, said Alonzo Mourning of Miami is his choice for defensive player of the year. ... Knicks forward John Wallace, out with a sprained ankle, is expected to be activated in time for Friday's night's game at Toronto. | ALSO SEE NBA Scoreboard New Jersey Clubhouse New York Clubhouse RECAPS Boston 95 Orlando 91
New York 91
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