NBA ROUNDUP : Knicks Still Perfect, but Ewing Hurts Neck

Once Michael Jordan retired, an NBA title was predicted for the New York Knicks. Such talk might have been a bit premature, but the Knicks have done nothing to make their advocates look bad.

Patrick Ewing scored 19 points despite sitting out the final 20 minutes because of a strained neck as the Knicks remained unbeaten with a 103-84 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night at Indianapolis.

The Knicks’ 5-0 record matches the best start in team history. They also were 5-0 in their 1969-70 championship season.

The Pacers are 1-4.

Ewing was injured with 1:11 to play in the half when he took an elbow to the back of the neck from Pacer center Rik Smits, who was called for a flagrant foul. Ewing started the second half and scored three points before leaving for good with 8:13 left and the Knicks ahead, 60-54.

“He hit me on top of the head,” Ewing said. “They say it’s just a spasm right now. I’ll be fine. I’ll take some muscle relaxers, get some therapy and treatment on it, and I’ll be fine for tomorrow.”

The Knicks were able to pull away despite also losing guard John Starks with 4:43 left when he was called for his second technical foul after getting into a shouting match with Pooh Richardson.

Reggie Miller scored 24 points for the Pacers.

Sacramento 93, San Antonio 91--Mitch Richmond hit a 21-foot jump shot with 3.7 seconds left to lift the Kings (3-1) at Sacramento. David Robinson’s two free throws with 25 seconds left tied the score at 91-91. The Spurs are 2-3 overall and 0-2 on a four-game trip that continues with a game tonight against the Clippers.

Charlotte 110, Boston 107--Alonzo Mourning scored 23 points and personally outscored the Celtics from the free-throw line, helping the Hornets rally from a late 12-point deficit at Boston.

Mourning made 13 of 14 free throws as the Hornets, who lead the NBA in foul shots, sank 33 of 42. Boston made only 12 of 19.

Cleveland 102, Golden State 93--John Williams scored 18 points and Mark Price had 16 points and 14 assists for the Cavaliers at Oakland.

The Cavaliers (2-3), off to a disappointing start under new Coach Mike Fratello, got 17 points and 13 rebounds from Brad Daugherty.

Portland 94, Atlanta 84--Rod Strickland of the Trail Blazers scored 10 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter at Portland. He scored six during a 15-4 run that gave the Trail Blazers an 89-82 lead with 1:09 to play.

Dominique Wilkins of the Hawks scored 30 points, 24 in the first half.

Miami 115, Orlando 100--Glen Rice made his first six shots of the third quarter at Orlando and the Heat held Shaquille O’Neal to three fourth-quarter points.

The Heat trailed, 70-58, with nine minutes left in the third quarter, but outscored Orlando, 57-30, after that, with Rice and Steve Smith leading the way offensively and Rony Seikaly and John Salley double-teaming O’Neal on defense.

Nick Anderson led the Magic with 29 points. O’Neal had 21.

Dallas 115, Minnesota 99--Rookie Jamal Mashburn scored 36 points, giving Quinn Buckner his first coaching victory and helping the Mavericks beat the winless Timberwolves at Minneapolis.

By winning for the first time in four games, the Mavericks avoided their worst start ever. Dallas lost its first 29 road games last year, when its 11-71 overall record was the NBA’s worst.

Christian Laettner scored 26 points for the Timberwolves (0-5).

Utah 109, Detroit 89--Karl Malone scored 28 points and had 15 rebounds and John Stockton had 19 assists for the Jazz, who went on a 17-0 run in the second quarter at Salt Lake City. Detroit center Bill Laimbeer was ejected in the first quarter after committing a flagrant foul against Malone.

Washington 105, Philadelphia 93--Rex Chapman scored 20 points, including eight in the decisive third quarter, at Landover, Md., as the Bullets extended the 76ers’ losing streak to four.

For the 76ers, Clarence Weatherspoon had 18 points and rookie Shawn Bradley scored a season-high 14 on four-of-nine shooting.