Knicks Get Defensive to Defeat Hornets

Glen Rice did all he could for three quarters, but he and the rest of the Charlotte Hornets didn’t do much in the fourth.

The New York Knicks withstood 39 points from Rice and held the Hornets without a field goal for more than 8 1/2 minutes of the fourth quarter Saturday for a 100-93 victory at Madison Square Garden.

It gave New York a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, which moves to Charlotte for Game 3 on Monday night.

Patrick Ewing led New York with 30 points on 15-of-21 shooting and added six rebounds and three blocks. Chris Childs scored 17 points, including three consecutive jumpers late in the fourth that helped New York wrap it up.

“Chris played a good game,” Ewing said. “He hit some huge shots in the fourth quarter and played very good defense on [Charlotte guard Tony] Delk. That’s the type of game we’re going to need from him if we’re going to win a championship.”

The Knicks, who shot 58.4% in Game 1, almost matched it by shooting 56.4%. John Starks added 14 points and Allan Houston 12.

Delk, starting at point guard in place of injured Muggsy Bogues, had 15 points for Charlotte.

Houston 96, Minnesota 84--Charles Barkley scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead a late rally by the Rockets, who took a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five series.

The Rockets jumped on the Timberwolves early for an easy 17-point victory in Game 1. But it took the whole game this time to put away youthful Minnesota, playing in its first playoff series.

“It was an intense game from beginning to end,” said Houston center Hakeem Olajuwon, who finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds. “You have to give them a lot of credit. They have a lot of athletic players and they play together.”

The game turned rough in the fourth quarter, which began with the Rockets leading, 66-65, after six lead changes and two ties.

Sam Mitchell was called for a flagrant foul and ejected with 9:25 to play after a confrontation with Kevin Willis. Mitchell hit Willis from behind with a forearm as Willis drove for a layup. The two exchanged words and had to be separated.

After Minnesota took a 79-78 lead, Barkley led the Rockets on an 18-5 run to finish the game.

“When they made runs at us, we panicked, but when we made runs at them, they just retaliated even more,” said Minnesota’s Tom Gugliotta, who had 17 points. “We did a good job today. We hurt ourselves down the stretch, though.

“They did their job by winning two games at home and now it’s our turn.”