NBA ROUNDUP : Ewing Scores 41 as Knicks Win

A year ago, the absence of Charles Oakley in a game against Utah and Karl Malone would have probably meant a loss, even at home, for the New York Knicks.

The Knicks can overcome such a problem these days. That is, Patrick Ewing can overcome the problem.

Ewing scored seven of his 41 points in the last 71 seconds and the Knicks overcame the Jazz, 115-107, and remained perfect at home, 10-0.

Oakley, the No. 3 rebounder in the NBA, was suspended for the game after fighting with Seattle’s Xavier McDaniel during the fourth quarter Saturday night. It was expected that Malone, the league’s No. 4 rebounder, would give Utah a rebounding edge.

But Ewing stepped forward and took 15 rebounds to give the Knicks a slight edge on the boards. Ewing is not in the top 10, but at 7-0, he can do the job.

It isn’t as if the Jazz, battling San Antonio for the lead in the Midwest Division, didn’t play well. John Stockton had a club-record 27 assists and 19 points. Malone scored 29 points and had nine rebounds.

Ewing made 17 of 27 shots from the field and was at his best in the second half, when he scored 26 points.

The Knicks trailed, 92-87, with 8:29 to play, but Ewing and Gerald Wilkins, who had 25 points, led a 12-2 surge that put New York ahead. And, at the finish, Ewing, who played 43 minutes, was still going strong.

“Without Charles, we had to really pull together as a team,” Ewing said. “We knew they’d be bigger than us. We just had to be quicker, and I had to do a job on the backboards.

“I don’t think I played any harder than I do in any other game. I’m psyched before every game. I just felt I had to have a big rebounding night if we were going to win.”

Utah Coach Jerry Sloan said he had heard all season that Ewing was playing better.

“I was just sorry to see for myself that it is true,” Sloan said.

Boston 95, Milwaukee 86--It seemed the Celtics had everything going against them in this game at Milwaukee.

For one thing, it was Kevin McHale’s birthday. The Celtics had played nine previous games on his birthday and lost them all.

Then, too, the Celtics had lost their last nine games in Milwaukee.

Finally, the Bucks figured to be aroused after an angry Coach Del Harris fined five of them for poor execution on offense in the closing minutes of their loss to Miami Saturday night.

McHale had 14 points and 11 rebounds, but it was Larry Bird who ignited the team.

Bird had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six assists.

Detroit 94, Seattle 77--The SuperSonics couldn’t make up for the loss of Xavier McDaniel at Auburn Hills, Mich..

Although Isiah Thomas showed the effects of the concussion he suffered Friday night at Utah, the Pistons didn’t really need him. Thomas played 33 minutes and had only two free throws. He was 0 for 10 from the field.

With 7-1 James Edwards and 6-11 Bill Laimbeer clogging the middle, the Sonics had to go outside, where they were unsuccessful.

They had a poor first half with only 39 points, and did worse in the second half.

Portland 119, Houston 100--The Rockets started fast at Portland, but once Terry Porter started tossing in three-point baskets, the Trail Blazers took over.

Porter made four three-point baskets in the first half and had 14 points to get Portland in front. By the end of the third quarter the lead was 89-71.

The victory moved the Trail Blazers within half a game of the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

Atlanta 115, Sacramento 112--The Kings led most of the game at Atlanta, but Dominique Wilkins took charge in the closing minutes to save the Hawks.

Wayman Tisdale, who had 29 points, made a jump shot with 5:34 left to give the Kings a 102-94 lead.

But in the closing minutes Wilkins outscored the Kings, 11-10, and with help from Moses Malone, brought the Hawks from behind.

Charlotte 102, Dallas 97--Dell Curry’s jump shot with 37 seconds left at Charlotte broke a 97-97 tie and the Hornets ended their 10-game losing streak.

Armon Gilliam had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Hornets.

Washington 112, Minnesota 99--Jeff Malone scored 12 points in the third quarter at Landover, Md., and the Bullets pulled away in the fourth quarter.

Mel Turpin had six points in the first 3:14 of the fourth quarter and the Bullets coasted to their fourth victory in a row.

New Jersey 100, Miami 98--Larry Hinson made a layup with 3.6 seconds remaining to give the Nets a win on the road, their second in the last 11 away from home.

Miami’s Rory Sparrow tried a desperate three-point shot, but it bounced off the rim at the buzzer.