Ewing, Knicks Drop Portland Back to Lakers

Patrick Ewing showed his critics that his career in New York is not quite finished yet.

Ewing, the subject of trade rumors this week, energized the New York Knicks Thursday night by matching his season high with 20 points in a 98-88 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at New York.

The loss dropped the Trail Blazers into a tie with the Lakers atop the Pacific Division.

“He’s a warrior,” teammate Larry Johnson said of Ewing. “Patrick’s been around a long time. It was just a matter of time until he heated up. His shot was falling and he got into a good groove tonight.”

Ewing, 37, has battled injuries the last three years and sat out the first 20 games this season because of tendinitis in his Achilles’. He sat out the Knicks’ trip to the NBA finals last season and came back to find his role diminished as Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell took over.

Ewing’s ego hasn’t diminished, however, and his relationship with Coach Jeff Van Gundy has deteriorated this season as his minutes have decreased.

“I’m not going to complain about minutes,” Ewing said. “When my number is called, I do the best I can. I knew I’d be a significant contributor. I don’t need other people to motivate me. I motivate myself.”

This hasn’t been the best week for Ewing. Benched for the final 17 minutes in Tuesday’s loss to the Orlando Magic, he woke up Wednesday to stories that said the Knicks discussed a trade that would have sent him to the Washington Wizards.

“Whatever happens, happens,” Ewing said of his future in New York. “Greater players than me have been traded. It’s a business.”

Milwaukee 102, Utah 99--Glenn Robinson’s three-point basket at the buzzer lifted the Bucks at Salt Lake City, giving the Jazz a five-game losing streak for the first time in almost six years.

With the score tied at 99-99, Robinson took an inbounds pass from Vinny Del Negro and stepped back and made the shot over the outstretched arm of Adam Keefe.

Robinson made all four of his three-point shots.

Ray Allen scored a season-high 36 points for the Bucks, making five of seven three-point attempts.

San Antonio 112, Toronto 95--Tim Duncan had 32 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists and the Spurs held Vince Carter without a dunk at San Antonio.

The Spurs double-teamed Carter nearly every time he touched the ball and held him to 19 points, five below his average. After making four of six shots in the first quarter, Carter missed 10 of his next 12.

Houston 109, Philadelphia 106--Shandon Anderson scored a career-high 32 points for the Rockets at Houston.

Allen Iverson scored 40 points for the 76ers, but it wasn’t enough as Anderson scored nine during a 15-0 run that began late in the third quarter and sent the Rockets to their third consecutive victory.

Dallas 106, Charlotte 96--Michael Finley scored 32 points, including seven in a row to open the fourth quarter, to lead the Mavericks at Dallas.