No Hype as Knicks Beat Heat Again

Pat Riley got booed so little in his second trip back to Madison Square Garden that he was all jokes and smiles afterward--even though his team lost.

Patrick Ewing scored 34 points and Hubert Davis had 19 Monday night at New York as the Knicks defeated the Miami Heat for the third time this season, 94-85.

“There weren’t 36 stories before the game, there wasn’t a countdown, there weren’t any banners and the people were rather subdued tonight,” Riley said. “I have nothing but respect for Knicks fans, and one day it might be normal again, I hope.”

Riley was booed lustily when his new team visited New York in December, but he got a much milder reaction this time and did his best to keep a low profile.

He was booed for only three seconds when Miami’s lineup was introduced, and he kept his eyes on a play chart in his lap rather than respond to the crowd. It was much different Dec. 19 in his first trip back as he blew kisses to the crowd and waved his arms in a “Bring it on” fashion.

The targets of Knick fans Monday were Anthony Mason (0 for 6), Charles Smith (one for six) and John Starks (one for four in a limited role).

The Knicks won their third in a row, but they didn’t pull away from Miami until the latter part of the fourth quarter.

Rex Chapman scored 23 points, Alonzo Mourning had 21 and Billy Owens 19 for Miami, which hasn’t won two consecutive games since Dec. 3.

Davis made three three-point shots and Charles Oakley five free throws in a span of five minutes during the fourth quarter as the Knicks outscored the Heat, 16-9, to take an eight-point lead that sealed the outcome.

Utah 106, Detroit 97--Karl Malone scored 40 points for the Jazz, including 13 in the fourth quarter at Salt Lake City.

The Jazz led, 57-31, before the Pistons rallied in the second half. Grant Hill paced Detroit with 34 points and Allan Houston had 23.

John Stockton had 19 points and 14 assists for Utah.

Seattle 92, Portland 88--Gary Payton made 10 of 12 field goals, including a game-clinching 19-footer with 13.5 seconds to play at Portland, as the SuperSonics won their fifth consecutive game.

Payton finished with 21 points and got unlikely help from Frank Brickowski, who was three for four from three-point range and scored 16. Brickowski’s three-point basket with 2:46 to play put Seattle ahead for good, 90-87.

Portland, on target to become the worst free-throw shooting team in NBA history, was 19 for 31 from the line.

Charlotte 88, Cleveland 86--Kenny Anderson’s running bank shot with 0.6 seconds left lifted the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Anderson dribbled off time at the top of the key before driving left and shooting over Michael Cage for the game-winner.

Anderson finished with 16 points.

Philadelphia 101, Vancouver 92--Jerry Stackhouse scored 29 points at Philadelphia as the 76ers ended a nine-game losing streak.

Sean Higgins had a season-high 27 points and added 11 rebounds. Clarence Weatherspoon had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers.

Greg Anthony had 18 points and Bryant Reeves 16 for the Grizzlies.

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NBA Notes

John Salley, unable to get any playing time with the Toronto Raptors, arranged for a buyout of his contract and will try to hook up with another team, the Canadian Press reported.