NBA ROUNDUP : Ewing, Starks Power Knicks

Patrick Ewing scored 43 points and John Starks added a career-high 39 to lead the New York Knicks to a 124-116 comeback victory over the Charlotte Hornets Wednesday night at Charlotte.

The Knicks made 67% of their shots in the decisive fourth quarter, when they outscored the Hornets, 34-21. Ewing and Starks outscored the entire Charlotte team, 57-52, in the second half.

Ewing, who also had 12 rebounds, scored 31 of his season-high total in the second half, helping New York erase a 13-point deficit.

“It’s nice when you have two guys hot at the same time, especially when it’s one inside and one outside,” said Starks, also had 13 assists and five rebounds.

Alonzo Mourning, the Hornets’ rookie center who played after Ewing at Georgetown, led Charlotte with a career-high 35 points. He also grabbed nine rebounds. Larry Johnson scored 31 points for the Hornets and added nine rebounds.

“We kept our composure and kept fighting,” Ewing said. “We had excellent help defensively on Larry (Johnson) and Alonzo (Mourning).”

Chicago 114, Utah 96--Michael Jordan got to take some time off on his 30th birthday, but he scored 27 points in three quarters for the Bulls at Chicago.

On his 29th birthday, Jordan scored 46 points during a victory over Cleveland.

“Gravity got Michael on his 30th birthday,” Chicago Coach Phil Jackson said. “Last year he flew, this year he was grounded.”

Utah never threatened Chicago, which has won seven of its last nine games.

B.J. Armstrong had 15 points for the Bulls and Scottie Pippen added 14. Armstrong also helped hold Utah’s John Stockton to five points.

“John’s a good player, but his team was struggling and they never got into rhythm,” Armstrong said.

Karl Malone led the Jazz with 20 points.

Orlando 111, Denver 99--Shaquille O’Neal had 24 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots, and the Magic used a 16-0 run to start the second half at Orlando.

O’Neal, who will start at center for the Eastern Conference in Sunday’s All-Star game, won the statistical battle in his first professional matchup with Dikembe Mutombo, who had 15 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.

Mutombo was impressed with O’Neal but said it was too early to project him as a superstar.

“He’s going to be good,” Mutombo said. “He’s really good on the inside now, but he can be too one-dimensional. He needs to work on an outside shot and develop a more well-rounded game.”

Nick Anderson had 22 points and Scott Skiles 21 and a season-high 19 assists for Orlando. Chris Jackson led Denver with 25 points.

Cleveland 124, Dallas 97--The Cavaliers began the first quarter with a 10-3 run and were not challenged thereafter at Cleveland, to keep the Mavericks on pace for the NBA’s worst record ever.

Terrell Brandon led Cleveland, which won its fourth consecutive game and ninth in its last 10, with 20 points. Mark Price and Danny Ferry scored 16 points apiece.

The Mavericks (4-45) have lost seven consecutive games overall and all 22 on the road this season. At their current pace, they would win seven games, worse than the nine won by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1972-73.

Rookie Sean Rooks had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Mavericks.

Indiana 125, Sacramento 99--The Pacers ended their longest losing streak in four years as Kenny Williams came off the bench for 16 points and a career-high 12 rebounds at Indiana.

Williams was playing his third game since spending 10 games on the injured list because of a broken nose.

“It didn’t take me long to get my steps together,” said Williams, who played 28 minutes. “Tonight I went out and felt good. I played a couple of games with the broken nose before going on the injured list, and I was being timid. That isn’t me.”

Williams made eight of 11 shots and was one of seven Pacers to finish in double figures.

The victory ended Indiana’s seven-game losing streak. Reggie Miller scored 27 points and Detlef Schrempf had 25 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers. Sacramento, which lost for the ninth time in 10 games, got 23 points from Lionel Simmons.

Miami 111, Detroit 107--Glen Rice scored 33 points and the Heat held off a late run by the Pistons at Miami.

Detroit guard Isiah Thomas played only a minute in the second half before leaving the game because of an Achilles’ tendon injury. The Pistons also lost Orlando Woolridge, who fractured a hand against a backboard in the third quarter.

Rice made five of nine three-point shots to lead Miami. Mark Aguirre led Detroit with 29 points.