NBA ROUNDUP : Hornets Offer No Pain Relief

The Charlotte Hornets are hurting, but it is the New York Knicks who are feeling the pain.

The Hornets, without leading scorers Alonzo Mourning and Larry Johnson, got big performances from role players Eddie Johnson and LeRon Ellis in a 124-123 overtime victory Sunday at New York.

Eddie Johnson scored 18 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. He made eight of his last 11 shots.

“At times I get in a zone and it seems like everything I throw up goes in,” he said. “It was like that tonight.”

The Knicks, without Hubert Davis, Tony Campbell, Anthony Mason, Doc Rivers and Charles Smith, had only nine players in uniform. The Detroit Free Press reported today that Piston guard Isiah Thomas was headed to the Knicks as part of a deal for forward Tony Campbell and the Knicks’ No. 1 draft pick in this year’s draft.

Ellis scored 15 points, including a go-ahead three-point play during overtime. Hersey Hawkins added 25 points for the Hornets, who have beaten Chicago and New York in the last two games without their top two players.

New Jersey 101, Boston 97--The Celtics suffered their fourth consecutive home loss for the first time since 1978.

Derrick Coleman scored 23 points and had 16 rebounds for the Nets, who had won only three of their previous 19 games at Boston Garden.

The four-game home losing streak is the worst by the Celtics at Boston Garden since Nov. 3-12, 1978, the season before Larry Bird joined the Celtics. The last time the Celtics lost five in a row at home was in the 1949-50 season. They will try to avoid matching that streak Friday when they host Cleveland.

Utah 92, Portland 90--The Jazz rallied from a 19-point deficit at Portland to extend their winning streak to four games.

Karl Malone scored 18 of his 25 points in the second half for the Jazz. He made a 15-foot shot with 32 seconds left to give the Jazz a 91-87 cushion.

Philadelphia 96, Denver 80--Clarence Weatherspoon had 21 points and 10 rebounds at Denver as the 76ers ended the Nuggets’ five-game winning streak.

Sacramento 119, Dallas 116--Lionel Simmons scored 25 points and had 10 rebounds and eight assists at Sacramento to lead the Kings, who have won three in a row to move ahead of the Lakers.

The Mavericks cut the lead to 117-116 with 4.7 seconds left after consecutive three-point baskets by Tim Legler and Greg Dreiling.

Miami 93, Detroit 85--Rony Seikaly, playing with flu, came off the bench to score 18 points at Auburn Hills, Mich., to help the Heat hand the Pistons their seventh consecutive loss.