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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Needing an extra boost of energy to get
past an Orlando team on a seven-game winning streak, the Knicks got
it from an unlikely source.
|  | | Patrick Ewing showed he still has some hops at 37. |
Patrick Ewing coaxed 28 points and 18 rebounds out of his 37-year-old body to lead the New York Knicks past Orlando 96-89
Friday night. Ewing's big effort came one night after he scored a
season-high 30.
"Really, no one played or shot the ball particularly well other
than Pat," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "But I just liked that he
was mentally tough when things were going wrong in the fourth. He
was terrific.
Ewing helped lift starters Allan Houston (10 points) and Charlie
Ward (12), who were a combined 9-for-29 from the field.
"We have great admiration and respect for the will (the Magic)
play with, the heart they play with, the energy and intensity,"
Van Gundy said. "Their players are better than people are giving
them credit for. This is one of the best wins we've had all year."
Magic coach Doc Rivers praised Ewing's effort.
"I don't know what it is with these old centers," Rivers said,
also alluding to the Spurs' David Robinson, who scored 30 against
the Magic on Tuesday. "But they are hurting us right now. I
thought this game was going to come down to who was going to make a
shot.
"We had our chances tonight, I tell you. We had our opportunity
to win the game and we had a bunch of open shots. The ball just
didn't go in."
Darrell Armstrong's jumper with 1:06 remaining pulled Orlando
within one, 87-86. After Latrell Sprewell's two free throws put New
York ahead, 89-86, Orlando's Chucky Atkins missed a drive that
would have put the Magic back within one.
Ewing then hit a layup and a foul shot for a 92-86 lead. Orlando
ran out of time to make a serious threat as Ron Mercer missed a
3-point attempt with 17.0 seconds left.
"(Playing) back-to-back with them waiting was tough, but we
pulled through," Sprewell said. "Patrick was huge for us tonight.
Tough game for us. These guys play hard. We were able to hang in
there."
Sprewell only scored 10 points but he made all six of his free
throws in the final two minutes to help the Knicks defeat Orlando
for the third time in four meetings this year.
Reserve Kurt Thomas scored 14 points. His basket with 8:31
remaining in the game gave New York a 74-65 lead, its biggest of
the second half.
But the Magic battled back and used a 3-pointer by Atkins to cut
the Knicks' lead to 78-75 at the 6:13 mark.
Orlando had won 11 in a row and 15 of its last 16 at home. New
York has won 11 of its last 15 overall.
"I don't care if it's the New York Knicks, I don't care if it's
the Lakers," Armstrong said. "These games you should win at
home."
Armstrong led Orlando with 15 points. Atkins scored 14 and
fellow reserve Pat Garrity had 13. Mercer finished with 11 points
but was only 3-of-15 from the field.
Armstrong gave Orlando its first lead of the game, 56-55, when
he hit a 3-pointer at the 5:11 mark of the third quarter. Armstrong
followed with another jumper to cap a 19-8 run that put Orlando
ahead 58-55. But New York answered with an 11-5 run to take a 66-63
lead into the final quarter.
Garrity hit a jumper to tie the game, 33-33, with 5:05 remaining
in the first half. But the Knicks responded with a 14-6 run to end
the half and lead 47-39.
Game notes
New York's Chris Childs served the second game of his
two-game suspension for fighting. ... Orlando's seven-game win
streak was its longest since 1996. ... New York held a 46-36
rebounding edge, the first time in seven games Orlando has been
outrebounded. ... Orlando scored a first-quarter season low 12
points.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Orlando Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 102
Boston 97
Toronto 104
Atlanta 84
Detroit 97
Charlotte 82
Miami 103
New Jersey 85
Indiana 95
Cleveland 94
New York 96
Orlando 89
Houston 119
Seattle 116
Utah 105
Golden State 84
Minnesota 95
Sacramento 92
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