NBA Roundup : Knicks Turn Back Celtics, 109-107

Returning home to play the Boston Celtics after losing 3 straight games on the road, the New York Knicks took nearly 3 quarters to unwind.

With tenacious defense in the fourth quarter and in overtime, the Knicks came from 15 points down to defeat the Celtics, 109-107, Tuesday night in New York.

“We were very, very tight, the tightest we’ve played all year,” Knick Coach Rick Pitino said. “We played like the world would come to an end if we didn’t win.”

The Knicks broke their longest losing streak of the season and extended their home winning streak to 10 games.

Patrick Ewing, who scored only 14 points, broke a 106-106 tie with 25 seconds left in overtime on a 10-foot bank shot to give the Knicks the lead for good.

After Ewing’s shot, Boston’s Kevin McHale and New York’s Gerald Wilkins each hit 1 of 2 free throws. McHale was called for an offensive foul and the Celtics never regained possession.

New York’s Charles Oakley had 21 points and 18 rebounds, including 14 on the offensive boards.

Reggie Lewis scored 28 points for the Celtics.

Houston 104, Utah 102--Akeem Olajuwon scored 26 points and blocked 5 shots as the Rockets beat the Jazz at Houston.

Olajuwon rejected a shot by Thurl Bailey that could have tied the games, 102-102.

John Stockton had 26 points and 24 assists for Utah.

San Antonio 129, Denver 105--Willie Anderson scored 24 points and David Greenwood added a 23 and 17 rebounds as the Spurs beat the Nuggets at San Antonio.

Denver guard Michael Adams, who finished with 16 points, kept his streak of 3-point baskets alive with one in the second period. He has made at least one 3-pointer in each of the last 72 games.

Cleveland 119, Indiana 98--Brad Daugherty scored 29 points as the Cavaliers beat the Pacers at Richfield, Ohio, for their record ninth straight victory.

Indiana has lost 9 straight games, matching its longest skid of the season, and is 0-15 on the road.

Atlanta 123, Detroit 104--Moses Malone scored 28 points and grabbed 22 rebounds to lead the Hawks over the Pistons at Atlanta.

Isiah Thomas scored 28 points for Detroit.

New Jersey 109, Charlotte 106-- Joe Barry Carroll and Roy Hinson scored 22 points as the Nets beat the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

The Hornets established an NBA single-season attendance mark for an expansion franchise. The Hornets broke the record of 319,347 set by Dallas in 41 home games in the 1980-81 season. Charlotte’s total is 341,818 after 15 home games.

Portland 119, Miami 95-- Clyde Drexler scored 21 points as the Trail Blazers beat the Heat at Portland.

Portland’s Kiki Vandeweghe, who had not played since a playoff game last May because of a lower back strain, scored 8 points and made 4 of 13 shots.

Sacramento 123, Dallas 96-- Jim Petersen scored 25 points as the Kings beat the Mavericks in Coach Jerry Reynolds’ first game after collapsing last week.

Reynolds, who fell to the court and was unconscious for several minutes during the Kings’ 112-111 over Portland on Dec. 27, wore a monitor to keep track of his heartbeat. Team physicians said stress triggered Reynolds’ collapse.