NBA PLAYOFFS : Knicks Shift Gear, Rout Pistons

When the regular season ended Sunday, the New York Knicks appeared to be a team on the skids heading into the NBA playoffs.

By losing five of their last eight games, the Knicks had blown the Atlantic Division title to Boston. Instead of a relatively weak Indiana team, they would have to play the Detroit Pistons in the best-of-five opening series.

Knick Coach Pat Riley, putting the blame for the collapse on himself for not working the team hard enough, worked his players twice daily in preparation for the playoffs.

At least for the opener, the Knicks were ready. The Knicks, who scored only 61 in losing to the Pistons the last time they played, on April 12, had that many points five minutes into the second half and went on to beat the Pistons, 109-75.

Mark Jackson, who slumped late in the season, triggered a rally that broke the game open during the third quarter.

With the Knicks leading by only 51-44, Jackson scored 14 of his 18 points during a 23-2 run that sealed the victory.

“We were greatly disappointed at the end of the season,” Jackson said. “And this was a tremendous effort by every one. This was a combination of us playing great and the Pistons not playing up to par.”

The Knicks’ Patrick Ewing, scoring nine of his points in the first eight minutes, finished with 24 points and 12 rebounds. The Knicks outrebounded the Pistons, 50-23.

Except for a brief period during the second quarter when they tied the score at 22-22, the Pistons trailed all the way. Although they scored three more points than they did in the game when they held the Knicks to 61, they were never really in this one.

The Pistons’ high scorer, Joe Dumars, had only 13 points.

“The Knicks were a determined team,” he said. “The first game of a playoff is enough incentive to get fired up. You don’t have to use what happened in the past do get you going.”

Riley praised his team but also sounded a note of caution.

“We were totally focused, but this was a real aberration,” he said. “We rode some emotion, did some great things.”

Chicago 113, Miami 94--As is usually the case when the Bulls have trouble getting started, Michael Jordan took charge at Chicago.

The Heat, in the opener of the best-of-five series, led by six during the first quarter.

Jordan, who showed no effects from back spasms that forced him to miss practice twice, went to work during the second quarter.

He scored 15 points during the period to put Chicago ahead and finished with 46 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists. He was 21 for 34.

The Heat ran into deep trouble when Scottie Pippen put a clamp on its best scorer, Glen Rice. Rice was only seven for 20.

The Bulls had a 60-53 lead at halftime and gradually widened the gap. A solid defense held the Heat to 41 points in the last 24 minutes, thwarting any hope of a rally.

“I told you this is what I’ve been waiting for,” Jordan said. “I’ve been excited all week. This is fun time. No, my back didn’t bother me at all.”

Coach Phil Jackson blamed the Bulls’ slow start on being “very nervous--no, very anxious.”

“The suspense of the playoffs was laboring in the back of our minds. We tried to do too much too quickly in the first quarter,” he added.

Heat Coach Kevin Loughery said he was not displeased.

“I have no complaints,” he said. “We just didn’t score. That’s a great defensive club. It should help us to get the first one out of the way.”

Phoenix 117, San Antonio 111--The report was that with the Spurs playing without center David Robinson, they would be out of the playoffs without putting up a fight.

Maybe the Suns believed it would happen, but it didn’t in the opener at Phoenix.

With Terry Cummings taking over, the Spurs led most of the game. Cummings had 30 points and 12 rebounds and the Spurs led by as many as 13 points.

The score was tied, 111-111, when the Suns’ Dan Majerle was fouled with 31 seconds remaining. He made both free throws and, as it turned out, it was the last gasp for the Spurs.

The Suns trailed by 61-54 at halftime. But Kevin Johnson and Majerle each scored 11 points during the third quarter as the Suns outscored the Spurs, 39-23.