Size Troubles Catching Up to the Knicks

No one had scored more than 106 points against the New York Knicks this season, and no one had shot better than 50.7%.

No one, apparently, told that to Washington.

The Wizards had no problem bettering both of those marks. Chris Webber and Juwan Howard scored 26 points apiece, and Washington made the NBA’s leading defense look ordinary in a 113-106 victory Monday night at New York.

“They blew us out, that’s the bottom line,” said Knick Coach Jeff Van Gundy, who berated John Starks in the third quarter when it looked as though the Knicks wouldn’t even make it close.

New York eventually made a run late in the game, but Washington had already opened too big of a lead.

The Wizards shot 58.1%, but what had to be most troublesome to New York was the ease with which Washington did it.

The Wizards scored almost at will inside against a Knicks team still adjusting to life without Patrick Ewing. Webber was 10 for 18, with 11 rebounds and seven assists, and Howard was 10 for 17.

Washington also ended its 14-game losing streak at Madison Square Garden that dated back to Jan. 31, 1991--the night former Knick Bernard King scored 49 points against his old team.

Houston 120, Toronto 96--Kevin Willis scored 20 points and Matt Bullard added 19 for the Rockets at Toronto.

After missing their first six three-point shots, the Rockets made 10 of their next 16, including two by Bullard in the third quarter as Houston pulled away to an 88-73 lead.

The Raptors have lost five in a row. The Rockets won for only the third time in eight games.

San Antonio 74, Orlando 69--Tim Duncan scored 20 points and David Robinson made six free throws in a game-ending 12-3 run that carried the Spurs at Orlando, Fla.

The loss was the ninth in 10 games for the injury-depleted Magic, which missed 22 of 27 shots in the fourth quarter and stumbled after leading, 66-62, with 5:34 to go.

The Spurs have won four in a row and 11 of 12 after struggling to a 10-10 start.

Milwaukee 98, Portland 92--Glenn Robinson scored 26 points, including four in the last 20 seconds, as the Bucks ended a six-game road losing streak at Portland.

Arvydas Sabonis led the Trail Blazers with a season-high 32 points and 13 rebounds.

NBA Notes

Chicago Bull Coach Phil Jackson said he doesn’t know when Scottie Pippen might be ready to play. “I’m guessing a couple of weeks still before we get Scottie, and I’m not putting any timetable on it,” Jackson said after practice in Deerfield, Ill. “It’s going to be his decision, and ultimately he’s got to make that decision as to when the right time is.” . . . Vernon Maxwell signed a 10-day contract with the Orlando Magic. To make room for the 6-foot-4 guard, Orlando waived forward Donald Royal, who signed with the team last week.