NBA ROUNDUP : Ewing Bests Robinson, Knicks Beat Spurs

Patrick Ewing outscored David Robinson 30-10 and the New York Knicks extended their winning streak to nine games overall and 13 at home with a 115-96 rout of San Antonio Sunday.

Ewing dominated the battle of U.S. Olympic “Dream Team” centers from the beginning, combining with John Starks to bury the Spurs in the first quarter.

The Knicks, who improved their record at Madison Square Garden to 30-4, made 68% of their shots and opened a 39-19 lead with 23 seconds left in the opening period.

“I hate to lose like this,” said Robinson, who went into the game virtually even with Ewing in both scoring and rebounding. “Once the Knicks get going like this, they’re hard to stop.

“I don’t know if this was Patrick’s best game, but it was his best game against me.”

The nine-game winning streak, which is New York’s longest since Dec. 9-30, 1989, has vaulted the Knicks into a one-game lead over Chicago in the standings for the Eastern Conference.

Indiana 109, Phoenix 108--Reggie Miller scored the Pacers’ final nine points, including a pair of free throws with 12.8 seconds left, to rally Indiana past the Suns at Phoenix.

Miller scored 11 of his 26 points in the final quarter as the Pacers came back from a 14-point halftime deficit.

Charles Barkley scored a game-high 38 points for the Suns, who lost for just the fourth time in 32 home games.

Boston 106, Portland 104--Reggie Lewis’ season-high 37 points led Boston, but it took Sherman Douglas’ driving layup in the final seconds to give the Celtics the victory over the Trail Blazers at Portland.

The victory completed a West Coast sweep of four games for the Celtics, who now have won five consecutive road games and six of their last seven.

Douglas’ drive to the basket and layup with 9.2 seconds left gave Boston the winning margin after Terry Porter’s layup at the other end was blocked by Robert Parish.

Cliff Robinson, who had 12 second-period points, led Portland with 26 and Porter added 19. Mario Elie scored 11 of his 18 points in the second period.

Rod Strickland, who had a season-high 14 assists, was forced out of the game late in the fourth quarter with a strained right leg.

Seattle 100, Houston 89--Gary Payton scored 27 points and Seattle held off a late Houston charge at Houston, extending the SuperSonics’ winning streak to six in a row over the Rockets.

It was Houston’s second consecutive loss after Portland snapped its 15-game winning streak Friday night. Seattle has won 16 of its last 19 games.

Hakeem Olajuwon led the Rockets with 32 points and 14 rebounds. Ricky Pierce added 24 points for the Sonics.

New Jersey 106, Dallas 84--The Nets brought the Mavericks back to reality as Drazen Petrovic scored 21 points and Derrick Coleman added 15 points and 15 rebounds at East Rutherford, N.J., snapping Dallas’ season-high two-game win streak.

Dallas, which defeated Orlando and Philadelphia last week, is now 1-30 on the road. The lone win was at Philadelphia Friday night.

Charlotte 99, Minnesota 95--Alonzo Mourning had 24 points and 14 rebounds and the Charlotte Hornets won for the first time in franchise history at Minnesota.

Tyrone Bogues scored five points in the final 1:07 to help secure the Hornets’ victory. Larry Johnson had 20 points and 13 rebounds and Dell Curry scored 21 points for Charlotte, now 1-4 on the road against the Timberwolves.

Christian Laettner had 27 points, 18 rebounds and seven assists for Minnesota, but scored just two fourth-quarter points. Micheal Williams scored 23 points and Doug West had 22 for the Wolves.

Minnesota, which has lost eight of nine games, is 0-5 this season against the other three expansion teams, with an average losing margin of 15 points.