|
|
|
| December 27, 2001 | Thursday | Shawwal 11, 1422 |
Houston leads Knicks past Raptors
NEW YORK, Dec 26: Allan Houston scored 34 points, leading the New York Knicks to a 102-94 victory over the Toronto Raptors Tuesday.
Toronto eliminated New York in five games in the first round of the playoffs a year ago.
Since Jeff Van Gundy resigned as Knicks’ coach on Dec 8, the Knicks have struggled under new coach Don Chaney.
New York, which played without injured forward Marcus Camby, led by as many as 20 points in the first quarter, but the lead slowly slipped away in what has become a custom for the Knicks.
Toronto climbed within 58-54 on a basket by Vince Carter with 7:33 left in the third quarter.
The Raptors drew even closer in the fourth when Carter landed two free throws with 3:23 remaining to cut the deficit to 88-87. But Houston came through with a running one-handed jumper that rolled on the rim before falling through.
Houston, who was fouled by Morris Peterson on the play, added the free throw and Mark Jackson had a pair from the line with 2:21 remaining for a 93-87 advantage.
Peterson led Toronto with 22 points and Carter had 13 of his 15 in the second half.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers, with Shaquille O’Neal on the injured list wth toe problems and Kobe Bryant struggling, rallied from a 13-point deficit in the fourth quarter for an 88-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
Samaki Walker started at center and had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Stanislav Medevedenko had 12 points for Los Angeles.
Philadelphia controlled the first three quarters and took a 73-60 advantage on a basket by Corie Blount with 9:34 remaining. Bryant, clearly bothered by a strained muscle in hisrib cage, had just four points on 2-of-14 shooting through three quarters.
But his jumper triggered a 19-2 run that gave Los Angeles the lead for good at 79-75 with 4:17 to play. Lindsey Hunter had a pair of 3-pointers in the burst.
A 3-pointer by Matt Harpring pulled the 76ers within 85-82 with 14 seconds left, but Devean George made one free throw and Allen Iverson turned over the ball on the next possession.
Despite his struggles, Bryant just missed a triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
Iverson led all scorers with 31 points for Philadelphia, which was limited to six field goals in the fourth quarter.
Tuesday’s results (home team in CAPS):
NEW YORK 102 Toronto 94
LA LAKERS 88 Philadelphia 82
—Reuters
|
|
|
|
