NBA ROUNDUP : Knicks Beat Pistons, 103-96, to Remain Unbeaten at Home

In his early years as coach of the Lakers, Pat Riley was not given much credit. For one thing, he went from the broadcasting booth to coaching.

Even more important, he had Magic Johnson. It was said that anybody could be a winning coach with Johnson on his team.

After winning nine consecutive Pacific Division titles, Riley finally was given credit, grudgingly, for being a good coach.

Maybe one of Riley’s reasons for coming out of retirement after only one season is to prove his ability.

In his most satisfying game since returning to coaching, Riley watched the Knicks overcome an 18-point deficit Saturday at New York and go on to defeat the Detroit Pistons, 103-96.

Knick center Patrick Ewing had 45 points and 10 rebounds, but it was a tight defense late in the second quarter that turned the game around.

In 9:16 the Knicks (9-5), who were trailing, 52-34, outscored the Pistons by 26-4 to take a four-point lead.

It was the Knicks’ fifth consecutive victory and seventh without a loss at home.

The Pistons, who had won two in a row, fell to 7-9. Last year, in their bid for a third consecutive NBA title, the Pistons had won 14 before they lost their ninth.

“The first six minutes of the third quarter we did a heck of a job defensively,” Riley said. “We had a horrid second period. We just couldn’t get anyone to throw the ball in the basket.”

Ewing, who was 17 for 26 from the field in his biggest offensive production of the season, praised his teammates.

“We stepped it up defensively and created some easy shots,” Ewing said. “Also, I think our perimeter shooting has improved, and that helped us. We’re building to a point where we’re dominant at home.”

Atlanta 129, Boston 102--Back-to-back games, especially when the second is on the road, have become too much for the ailing, aging Celtics.

After putting an end to the Lakers’ nine-game winning streak Friday night at home, they were no match for the Hawks, who had lost five in a row.

When rested, the Celtics can play well without injured stars Kevin McHale, Brian Shaw and Dee Brown. But they can’t come back the next night.

Kevin Willis, the league’s top rebounder, dominated at both ends, scoring 30 points and grabbing 22 rebounds.

Larry Bird, who had 22 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and two steals against the Lakers, had 11 points, four rebounds, five assists and no steals against Atlanta.

San Antonio 119, Seattle 101--Rather quietly, Larry Brown’s Spurs are building the best record in the West.

Another superb performance by David Robinson at San Antonio helped the Spurs (10-3) score their third consecutive victory. They are 8-0 at home.

Robinson had 23 points, 16 rebounds, a personal-best eight assists and six blocked shots.

The game was close until the middle of the second quarter, when Robinson scored seven points during a 14-4 burst that opened a 50-36 lead.

Milwaukee 137, Indiana 119--An angry Coach Del Harris shook up his lineup, fined four players and the Bucks played one of their best games of the season at Milwaukee.

Alvin Robertson, Moses Malone, Larry Krystkowiak and Dale Ellis missed practice Friday because flights were delayed into Milwaukee by fog. Harris fined them and took the first three out of the starting lineup.

Ellis, Malone and Robertson responded with four points apiece in a 14-3 tear early in the second quarter that helped the Bucks end a three-game losing streak.

Phoenix 134, Utah 125--Kevin Johnson rallied the Suns from a 12-point deficit to an overtime victory at Phoenix.

Johnson matched his personal best with 44 points and made two crucial three-point shots.

With nine seconds left in regulation, his three-pointer tied the score at 119-119.

Then, with the score 124-124 in overtime, he sank another three-pointer to give the Suns the lead for good.

Karl Malone led the Jazz with 41 points and 13 rebounds.

It was the third victory in a row for the Suns.

Chicago 118, Sacramento 102--After scoring 40 points in 51 minutes of an overtime victory at Portland Friday night, Michael Jordan scored 30 points at Sacramento to lead the Bulls to a sweep of their six-game Western trip and to their 12th consecutive victory.

Mitch Richmond scored 32 points for the Kings.

Dallas 79, Minnesota 78--Although the Timberwolves, snowbound in Minneapolis, didn’t arrive in Dallas until three hours before tipoff, they appeared to have a victory in their grasp.

They led, 78-71, and time was running out. But Rodney McCray tipped in a blocked shot with about two seconds left that capped an 8-0 run to victory.

Tony Campbell, who dribbled the ball off his leg to give the Mavericks the chance to win, partially blocked Brad Davis’ shot, only to have McCray win it.

Rookie Doug Smith, who made a basket during the late rally, led Dallas with 17 points.

Orlando 105, Miami 99--The Heat, which was playing so well a week ago, has hit the skids.

Dennis Scott scored seven of his 26 points in the fourth quarter at Orlando to help the Magic come from behind and end a five-game losing streak.

The Magic, trailing most of the game, outscored Miami, 35-20, in the last 12 minutes to win it.

The Heat, which led the Atlantic Division a week ago, lost for the fourth time in the last five games and fell to 8-7.

Denver 107, New Jersey 97--The Nuggets’ Chris Jackson scored 10 of his 24 points during the fourth quarter at Denver.