Knicks Make Statement, Upset Bulls

It was the first victory for the New York Knicks at United Center, and they hoped it sent a message that it wouldn’t be their last at the Chicago Bulls’ home arena.

The Knicks clinched the No. 3 playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and became only the second team to defeat the Bulls at home this season when Scottie Pippen missed a three-point shot at the buzzer to give the Knicks a 103-101 victory on Saturday.

The Knicks will not have to face the Bulls until the Eastern Conference finals. The Knicks open the playoffs Thursday at Madison Square Garden against either the Detroit Pistons or Charlotte Hornets.

The Bulls had 13 seconds to tie the score or win after Charlie Ward missed a three-point shot. Michael Jordan drove and passed the ball out to Steve Kerr, who swung it to Pippen, who missed wildly long and hard off the backboard.

Miami 102, Orlando 88--The Heat and Magic didn’t put on much of a playoff preview as both teams rested their best players and Miami made 10 three-point baskets in the victory at Orlando.

The teams will meet in the first round of the playoffs beginning next week. Miami’s Tim Hardaway and Alonzo Mourning and Orlando’s Rony Seikaly and Horace Grant didn’t play.

Atlanta 136, Philadelphia 104--Steve Smith scored 21 points to lead seven Hawks in double figures as Atlanta shot 65% and routed the 76ers in the regular-season finale at Atlanta.

None of Atlanta’s starters played more than 28 minutes. If the Knicks had lost, the Hawks could have grabbed third by winning at New Jersey today.

Vancouver 121, Phoenix 107--Second-year center Bryant Reeves scored a career-high 39 points as the Grizzlies dropped the Suns to the No. 7 spot in the Western Conference playoffs with the upset at Phoenix.

Reeves, who also had 11 rebounds, had 10 points in the fourth quarter, when the Grizzlies belied their NBA-worst record and answered everything the Suns could throw at them. Reeves’ final basket, a layup with 2:14 to play, gave Vancouver its biggest lead of the night, 113-100.

Utah 101, Minnesota 89--Karl Malone scored 26 points in 25 minutes and John Stockton added 14 points and 12 assists as the Jazz prevented the Timberwolves from reaching the .500 mark at Salt Lake City.

James Robinson led the Timberwolves with 28 points, including seven three-point baskets. Stephon Marbury added 14 and Sam Mitchell 12. Although denied a break-even record, the final 40-42 mark was Minnesota’s best in eight seasons.

Denver 100, Dallas 95--Ervin Johnson had 21 points and a career-high 26 rebounds and Kenny Smith made four free throws in the final 32.5 seconds as the Nuggets avoided the worst record in team history with the victory at Dallas.

The Nuggets also avoided their first winless month, ending a 10-game losing streak and a 14-game road losing streak.

Sacramento 122, Golden State 120--Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf made three three-point shots in the final 75 seconds of overtime as the Kings broke a 10-game road losing streak with the victory at San Jose.

Abdul-Rauf, who had 15 points in the fourth period and 11 in overtime, finished with 28.