Riley Returns and Knicks Disappear

It was supposed to be a matchup of the two best teams in the Atlantic Division.

Judging by what transpired, the Miami Heat should win the Atlantic in a walkover.

Sasha Danilovic went seven for seven on three-point shots as the Heat hammered the New York Knicks, 99-75, Tuesday night at New York.

It was as one-sided as NBA basketball gets, a statement game that left the Heat and former Knick Coach Pat Riley elated. The outcome also put Miami three games ahead of New York.

Alonzo Mourning outplayed Patrick Ewing in the battle of former Georgetown centers and disgusted Knick fans started heading for the exits midway through the fourth quarter.

“We just didn’t play well,” Ewing said. “I’m not going to jump off the bandwagon. I’ll let the rest of the people do that.”

Dan Majerle led Miami with 22 points, going three for seven on three-point shots and adding eight rebounds, five assists and three steals.

“It’s early in the year, but everyone knows this was a big game for us because we’re on a roll right now,” Majerle said.

Danilovic, who scored 21 points, was one shy of Jeff Hornacek’s NBA record for most three-point shots in a game without a miss.

Atlanta 105, Boston 95--Dikembe Mutombo had 21 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks as the Hawks won at Atlanta.

Atlanta’s Steve Smith, returning after sitting out 10 games because of a sprained right ankle, scored 20 points. Dana Barros scored 24 points for Boston.

Cleveland 93, Toronto 74--Terrell Brandon scored 18 points to lead the Cavaliers over the cold-shooting Raptors at Cleveland.

Bob Sura scored 15 points, and Tyrone Hill had 11 points and 11 rebounds for Cleveland.

Chicago 107, Milwaukee 104--Michael Jordan scored 40 points and the Bulls used a 19-5 run at the start of the fourth quarter to beat the Bucks at Milwaukee.

Golden State 114, Denver 99--Latrell Sprewell scored 28 points and Mark Price had 19 as the Warriors won at San Jose to string together successive victories for the first time this season.

The Warriors, coming off a 98-70 win at Portland on Sunday, also got 18 points from Joe Smith. Chris Mullin had 12 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for Golden State.

Denver’s Antonio McDyess was held to four points in the first half but finished with 21. Brooks Thompson scored 23 for Denver.

Indiana 98, Portland 93--Reggie Miller scored 32 points, including five three-point shots, as the Pacers held off the Trail Blazers’ second-half rally at Portland.

Miller’s three-point shot with three minutes left in overtime put the Pacers ahead for good, 90-87.

Sacramento 96, Minnesota 89--Mitch Richmond scored 29 points, including two key three-point shots in the fourth quarter, as the Kings won at Minneapolis.