Fast-Closing Knicks Beat the Heat in Miami, 82-80

The Miami Heat simply blew it.

Playing without Patrick Ewing, the New York Knicks stormed back from a 20-point deficit with 34 points in the fourth quarter, the last two coming on Chris Childs’ free throws with 20.1 seconds left, to beat the Heat, 82-80, Sunday at Miami.

The 34-point quarter exceeded by one New York’s entire first-half output and moved the Knicks past Toronto and Charlotte into the eighth and final spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Miami, however, got a break later when Indiana lost at New Jersey, keeping the Pacers two games behind the Eastern Conference-leading Heat in the loss column.

Larry Johnson led New York with 23 points as the Knicks earned their first win in three meetings this season between the teams.

Ewing sat out because of a sore left Achilles’ tendon and Alonzo Mourning took advantage, scoring 29 points, though only two of them came in the final quarter in which Miami made only four of 15 shots compared to the Knicks’ 11 of 14 field goals.

“This is as bad as it gets,” Heat point guard Tim Hardaway said.

Tempers even flared with 4:14 left as Jamal Mashburn and Kurt Thomas got tangled and were assessed technical fouls.

New Jersey 120, Indiana 98--Stephon Marbury scored 26 points and had a career-high 20 assists to lead the Nets to a rout of the Pacers at East Rutherford, N.J.

Portland 100, Minnesota 84--Brian Grant scored 24 points at Portland as the Trail Blazers moved one game away from clinching their first Pacific Division title in seven years.

Philadelphia 103, Orlando 86--Allen Iverson had 38 points at Philadelphia to lead the 76ers to their fourth straight victory.

Utah 98, Seattle 81--Karl Malone scored 21 points as the Jazz further hurt the SuperSonics’ playoff hopes at Salt Lake City.

Phoenix 95, Houston 71--Jason Kidd had 22 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds at Phoenix as the Suns handed the Rockets their third loss in a row.

Detroit 91, Toronto 83--Jerry Stackhouse had 24 points to help the Pistons end a three-game slide and stay a perfect 7-0 against the Raptors at Toronto.

Atlanta 85, Milwaukee 70--Dikembe Mutombo had 18 points, 18 rebounds and eight blocked shots at Atlanta as the Hawks ran their season-high winning streak to six games.

Boston 113, Washington 84--Dana Barros scored 20 points at Boston for the Celtics.