Cavaliers, Van Gundy Take Shots at Knicks

The possibility of winning the Atlantic Division didn’t prove too tempting to the New York Knicks. They way they played Saturday night at Cleveland, it looked as if they couldn’t care less if they win it.

“We didn’t have much energy and didn’t have a lot of emotion. It’s a matter of us just going through the motions,” Allan Houston said after the Knicks were flat in a 106-96 loss to the Cavaliers.

The Knicks dropped 1 1/2 games behind Miami in the Atlantic Division. With two games left, New York must win them both and have Miami lose its final three in order to win the division.

It was the second decisive road loss in as many night for the Knicks, who lost by 15 Friday night against the Toronto Raptors--their possible first-round playoff opponent.

“We’re not very intense, not very serious and not very focused,” Knick Coach Jeff Van Gundy said. “We’re as bad as you can be defensively in effort and hustle.

“I think we’re waiting on the playoffs, and the problem with that is you’re not going to do anything once you’re there.”

Milwaukee 120, Washington 116--Sam Cassell scored 34 points, including consecutive baskets at the start of overtime, as the Bucks moved within a half-game of the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot by beating the Wizards at Washington.

San Antonio 106, Utah 83--Sean Elliott scored a season-high 15 points at San Antonio and the Spurs overcame the absence of Tim Duncan to keep alive their slim hopes for a Midwest Division title.

The Spurs must win their final two games and hope Utah loses its final three to win the division.

Philadelphia 100, Detroit 94--Allen Iverson, his sore elbow getting more swollen by the minute, scored 30 points as the 76ers won at Philadelphia.

Iverson, also playing despite a broken big toe and partially torn rotator cuff, made 11 of 22 shots. His average remained at 28.5 points, second to Shaquille O’Neal’s 29.6.

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The owners of the New Jersey Nets, who have lost nine games in a row and 15 of their last 17, have decided to fire Coach Don Casey, General Manager John Nash and President Michael Rowe, the Newark Star-Ledger reported.