Cavaliers Remain Unbeaten at Knicks’ Expense

The most surprising team in the NBA turned a few more heads Wednesday night.

Bimbo Coles scored four of his 17 points in the final minute as the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers improved their record to 4-0 with a 99-97 victory over the Knicks at New York.

“I’m sure a lot of people are raising their eyebrows around the league saying, ‘Wait a minute, hold up, what’s Cleveland doing?’ ” forward Chris Gatling said. “We’re not as bad as people perceived us to be.”

Playing with the enthusiasm of a high school team, the Cavaliers took the lead with 4 1/2 minutes to play and never gave it back. This is the first time since 1988-89 they’ve started a season with four consecutive victories.

Andre Miller and Matt Harpring added 16 points each, Lamond Murray had 13, and Wesley Person scored 10 of his 12 in the fourth quarter. Cleveland’s reserves outscored New York’s, 44-15.

Allan Houston scored 25 for the Knicks but missed his final four shots and scored only two points in the fourth quarter. Former Laker Glen Rice, starting in place of the injured Latrell Sprewell, added 23.

The Cavaliers need four more victories to match the best start in franchise history--8-0 by the 1976-77 team.

Denver 109, Minnesota 107--Keon Clark made a fadeaway jump shot with one second to play in overtime to lift the Nuggets at Denver.

Denver’s George McCloud made a 10-foot shot with 1.2 seconds to play in the fourth quarter, forcing the extra period. In overtime, the Nuggets called a timeout with 18 seconds remaining. Clark caught a pass from McCloud along the baseline, gave a head fake and scored from about four feet out.

Reserve Voshon Lenard scored 20 points for the Nuggets. Raef LaFrentz added 19 points and 15 rebounds.

Kevin Garnett had 26 points and 16 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Sacramento 115, Golden State 84--Chris Webber had 27 points and nine rebounds, and Jason Williams had 12 assists in his return from a five-game suspension as the Kings romped at Sacramento.

Predrag Stojakovic also scored 27 points as the Kings put on another exceptional display of passing while embarrassing their Northern California rivals. The Kings led by 17 points in the first quarter and 29 shortly before halftime.

Williams, who received a five-game ban for violating rules in the NBA’s anti-drug program, sported a white headband around his freshly shaved head in his first game since the exhibition season. He made two of six shots.

Philadelphia 103, Detroit 94--Allen Iverson scored 28 points and Eric Snow added a career-high 23, including 10 in the fourth quarter, at Philadelphia.

The 76ers, 5-0 and off to their best start in 16 years, never trailed after the opening minutes. They built a 27-point lead in the second quarter and held on after Detroit rallied within a point in the fourth quarter.

New Jersey 102, Washington 86--Stephon Marbury scored 31 points and rookie Kenyon Martin added 20 to lead the Nets at Washington.

Indiana 108, Milwaukee 97--Reggie Miller scored 41 points, and Jermaine O’Neal had 24 points and 12 rebounds as the Pacers pulled away in the second half in front of the first non-sellout at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The Pacers had sold out 54 consecutive games at the year-old arena.

Miami 87, Seattle 81--Bruce Bowen made five free throws in the final 31 seconds and Brian Grant had 30 points and a season-high 21 rebounds for the Heat at Miami.

Charlotte 96, Orlando 90--David Wesley had 30 points and P.J. Brown scored eight of his 19 in the final four minutes for the Hornets at Orlando, Fla.

Vancouver 101, Dallas 74--Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 22 points and 12 rebounds at Dallas to help the Grizzlies improve to 4-1, the best start in their six-year history.

Around the League

After sitting out the first five games of the season because of malaria, Atlanta Hawk center Dikembe Mutombo was activated by the team and could play tonight against the Phoenix Suns. . . . Guard Vonteego Cummings of the Golden State Warriors had plastic surgery to repair a fractured right cheek. He is sidelined indefinitely. . . . The Washington Wizards placed forward Popeye Jones on the injured list and activated center Calvin Booth.