NBA ROUNDUP : Knicks Hit 60 by Beating Bulls

The New York Knicks matched their club record of 60 victories and perhaps made a statement Sunday.

The Knicks, who clinched the No. 1 spot in the East playoffs Friday, finished the regular season with their 20th consecutive victory at Madison Square Garden, beating the Chicago Bulls, 89-84.

“Sixty wins shows a lot of consistency, a lot of hard work and mental toughness,” Knick Coach Pat Riley said.

John Starks scored 22 points and Patrick Ewing had 22 points and 12 rebounds for New York, which will begin the playoffs Friday against the Indiana Pacers. New York also finished 60-22 in 1969-70 when it won its first NBA title.

Michael Jordan scored 21 points for Chicago, which will play host to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday.

Boston 106, Washington 94--Robert Parish scored six points during a 12-0 third-quarter run at Landover, Md., that propelled the Celtics past the Bullets.

Boston will open postseason play against the Charlotte Hornets.

San Antonio 119, Houston 117--David Robinson, whose tip-in forced overtime, had 25 points at San Antonio as the Spurs kept the Rockets from gaining home-court advantage in a possible second-round series with Seattle.

The SuperSonics, with the same 55-27 record as the Rockets, won their season series against Houston.

Houston will play host to the Clippers during the first round, starting Thursday. San Antonio will start the playoffs on the same night at Portland.

Denver 120, Phoenix 118--Chris Jackson made a three-pointer as the final buzzer sounded at Denver, giving the Nuggets the victory.

The Suns, whose 62 victories led all NBA teams, will open the playoffs at home Friday night against the Lakers.

Cleveland 107, Philadelphia 103--Terrell Brandon scored nine points in the last three minutes at Richfield, Ohio, to lift the Cavaliers.

Cleveland, which will open the playoffs Thursday night at home against the New Jersey Nets, finished the regular season by winning 11 of 12 games.

Golden State 119, Seattle 109--Led by Tim Hardaway’s season-high 41 points and 18 assists at Oakland, the Warriors beat the SuperSonics, who finished George Karl’s first full regular season as coach at 55-27, one victory shy of the club record.

Detroit 116, New Jersey 110--Olden Polynice had a season-high 27 points at Auburn Hills, Mich., as the Pistons finished their worst season in a decade with a victory.

The Nets, in their first year under former Detroit coach Chuck Daly, enter the postseason having lost 10 of their last 11 games.