Nets Stun the Knicks With Ease

“Break up the Nets!” would be the perfect line. Too bad it happened a month ago.

New Jersey pulled off its second consecutive stunning victory Sunday, dominating the boards, running out to an early double-digit lead and never letting the Knicks back into the game as they defeated New York, 89-74, at New York.

The victory came less than 48 hours after the Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls by one point.

The Nets are 5-8 since changing almost half of their roster in the nine-player trade that sent Shawn Bradley to Dallas. Sam Cassell led the Nets with 23 points and a season-high 10 rebounds.

Miami 101, Houston 80--Isaac Austin has filled in admirably since Alonzo Mourning was injured, but never more so than he did against Hakeem Olajuwon at Miami.

Austin scored 18 points and grabbed nine rebounds as the Heat moved into first place in the Atlantic Division.

Olajuwon led Houston with 20 points, but scored one point in the fourth quarter before fouling out.

Dallas 89, Sacramento 88--Shawn Bradley scored the Mavericks’ final eight points, including a short jump shot with 4.5 seconds to play at Sacramento.

With his team trailing, 87-86, Dallas guard Erick Strickland drove into the lane and found Bradley along the baseline for the winning basket.

Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf missed a three-point attempt with two seconds to play for the Kings.

Detroit 86, Seattle 83--At Auburn Hills, Mich., Terry Mills scored 20 of his 25 points in the first half and the Pistons won their 47th game, one more than they won all last year.

Joe Dumars scored 21 for the Pistons. Hersey Hawkins led Seattle with 18 points.

Orlando 100, Vancouver 89--At Orlando, the Magic won for the 12th time in 15 games under Coach Richie Adubato and have climbed into the seventh playoff position in the Eastern Conference. The Grizzlies, who beat the Magic on Dec. 13, lost their 13th game in a row.

Gerald Wilkins’ 17 points led the Magic.

Milwaukee 102, Indiana 98--Glenn Robinson scored 11 of his 30 points in the fourth quarter at Milwaukee.

Indiana has lost five of its last six to fall 4 1/2 games behind in its bid for the East’s eighth playoff berth. Rik Smits led the Pacers with 24 points.

Minnesota 119, Boston 101--The Celtics’ season reached milestone proportions as they clinched the franchise’s worst winning percentage since 1950 with a loss at Minneapolis.

Kevin Garnett led Minnesota with 26 points.