Houston Gives Spurs a Problem in Game 3

A shooter showed up in the Knick of time, somebody who would not and could not be trampled by the San Antonio Spur playoff-sweep stampede.

Exactly when it was needed most, precisely when the Spurs seemed to be coiled for their now-familiar second-half squashing, New York guard Allan Houston scored 34 points and stemmed the tide Wednesday night.

As a result, the New York Knicks scrambled back into this final series, winning, 89-81, in Game 3 before a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden.

Yes, the Spurs can be beaten, though it did not seem like it for a long time.

“Allan got on a roll tonight,” New York Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “Allan has shown an ability to make critical shots. . . . He has made critical shots for us down the stretch in games, and that’s a rare quality in this league.”

Asked what it was like to watch Houston perform down the stretch, Spur Coach Gregg Popovich said: “It was a pain in the neck. . . . He was super. I don’t know what else I can tell you.”

For a team that averaged only 72 points in two losses at San Antonio to start the series, Houston’s 13-point outburst keyed a 32-point Knick first quarter and set a tone that continued throughout the game.

The Knicks never trailed, and when the Spurs made their traditional second-half runs, Houston, positioned on the low post and shooting his fade-away over Spur defenders, was always there with big baskets.

“They did what we usually do,” Spur center David Robinson said, “that’s hold off every run.”

Houston’s biggest basket came late in the third quarter, after San Antonio had scrambled to a 58-58 tie on an 8-0 run.

As the shot clock expired, Houston swished a three-pointer from the top of the key that made the score 61-58, and New York kept the lead from there.

“It was real big for them,” Spur big man Tim Duncan said of the play. “We played hard the whole possession, and then Houston steps up and hits that one. . . .”

Asked about the back-breaking basket, Houston credited Knick forward Kurt Thomas--who had 10 rebounds--for working to grab the loose ball and getting it to him.

“That was a key play, it kept us in the lead,” Houston said. “Kurt had a series of plays where he had offensive rebounds and hustle plays. That’s the nature of his team, Kurt does his job and kicks it to me for the three.

“That’s what happens sometimes when you keep digging in there and continue to work.”

This is becoming something of a Knick pattern: Houston made the basket in Game 5 to beat the Miami Heat in the first round, and then ripped apart the Indiana Pacers for 33 points in the series-clinching Game 6 in the Eastern Conference finals.

Now, with a career-playoff-high 34 against the Spurs, is he the Knicks’ playoff go-to guy?

“I’m comfortable being in that position,” Houston said. “But I think it’s whoever’s going well, whoever’s having a good night. We still have to make plays for each other.”

Houston, who scored a combined 38 points in the two opening losses, also made his first two three-pointers of the series Monday.

“It’s kind of ironic, when I first came into the league, that’s all I did, shoot threes,” Houston said. “Now I kind of feel comfortable going to the basket. Still, if I get an open one, I’m going to take it.”

The victory narrowed San Antonio’s series lead to 2-1, ended the Spurs’ NBA record streak at 12 consecutive victories in the postseason, and gave New York the chance to tie the series in Wednesday’s Game 4.

And, against the intimidating backdrop of all those San Antonio playoff victories, it also gave the Knicks hope.

Yes, you can score against the Spurs’ twin-tower defense, especially when you get to the free-throw line 30 times.

“We liked the way we played in some areas in San Antonio,” Van Gundy said. “But our offense just wasn’t scoring enough for us to win. You can’t be in the 70s.”

San Antonio, meanwhile, hadn’t lost since Game 2 in the first round to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Three previous teams this postseason have faced the Spurs desperately needing a Game 3 victory--including the Lakers in the second round, of course.

And three previous teams have lost.

But in this one, San Antonio committed 20 turnovers--six by point guard Avery Johnson--and got a great big gob of nothing from Sean Elliott (seven points, three-for-nine shooting), Jaren Jackson (no points) and Mario Elie (six points).

“Every time we climbed back in to try to tie or take the lead, it seemed like something happened, whether it was a travel or something bad,” Popovich said.

Now, the Spurs must respond to a key defeat for the first time in a month.

“We always respond well to a loss,” Robinson said. “Always.”

While Houston (who made all 12 of his free-throw tries) was providing the scoring punch, the Knicks threw a total team defensive effort at Duncan, who had 20 points but was held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

“We couldn’t get Tim to the line,” Popovich said. “He got a lot of touches, but we got him to the line four times. That’s not enough.”

Said Duncan: “They were a little more aggressive. They didn’t let me into the middle as much. But I missed some shots that I usually hit. That’s pretty much it.”

NBA FINALS

NEW YORK vs. SAN ANTONIOA

Spurs lead best-of-seven series, 2-1

Game 1: San Antonio 89, New York 77

Game 2: San Antonio 80, New York 67

Game 3: New York 89, San Antonio 81

Game 4: Wednesday at New York, 6 p.m.

Game 5: Friday at New York, 6 p.m.

Game 6: Sunday at San Antonio, 4:30 p.m.*

Game 7: June 29 at San Antonio, 6 p.m.*

TV: Ch. 4, * If necessary