Knicks Narrowly Get Home-Court Edge

The Knicks weren’t all that great in their final regular-season game, just good enough to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Needing a victory to clinch the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, the Knicks got big games from Kurt Thomas and seldom-used Felton Spencer to hold off the Detroit Pistons, 94-88, Wednesday night at New York.

New York will play Toronto, which defeated the Knicks, 3-1, in the season series, in a first-round matchup beginning Sunday. Had they lost to Detroit, the Knicks would have had to go to Toronto to play Games 1 and 2 at the Air Canada Center.

“If we’re playing our best, we can compete with anybody,” Coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

Toronto 98, Washington 92--Vince Carter scored 34 points for the Raptors at Washington. The victory guaranteed the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference.

After the game, Wizard Coach Leonard Hamilton was summoned to team President Michael Jordan’s office, then resigned.

“I think it’s in the best interests of everybody that I allow their progress to move on with me going in another direction,” Hamilton said.

Jordan left the building without comment.

The Washington Post and ESPN, however, reported that Doug Collins, one of Jordan’s former coaches and an NBC analyst, is a top prospect to replace Hamilton. ESPN reported it could happen as soon as today.

Denver 110, Sacramento 100--Raef LaFrentz tied his career high with 32 points as the Nuggets won at Denver.

The Kings used Chris Webber and their other starters sparingly in preparation for the playoffs.

Seattle 105, San Antonio 67--Gary Payton scored 31 points and rookie Desmond Mason added a season-high 25 for the SuperSonics at Seattle.

The Spurs played without David Robinson, who was resting a stiff back before the playoffs. Tim Duncan played only 19 minutes. San Antonio (58-24) had already clinched the NBA’s best record.

Miami 103, Orlando 91--A.C. Green had 19 points and 14 rebounds in leading the Heat at Orlando, Fla.

Dallas 120, Minnesota 100--Michael Finley scored 14 of his 24 points in the first quarter as the Mavericks capped their best season in 13 years with a victory in their final regular-season game at Reunion Arena.

Indiana 105, Cleveland 101--Jermaine O’Neal scored six of his 30 points in overtime and had a career-high 20 rebounds at Cleveland.

Charlotte 97, Boston 92--Jamal Mashburn scored 21 points at Boston as the Hornets headed into the playoffs on a four-game winning streak.

Chicago 92, Philadelphia 86--Elton Brand scored 31 points and Fred Hoiberg added 18 as the Bulls used a late 10-0 run to beat the 76ers’ at Philadelphia.

The 76ers played without Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo. Both were put on the injured list to rest for the playoffs.

Phoenix 98, Utah 93--With Karl Malone and John Stockton making only a cameo appearance, the Suns rallied to beat the Jazz at Phoenix.

Vancouver 95, Golden State 81--Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 26 points and tied the franchise record with a career-high 22 rebounds at Oakland.

Around the League

Penny Hardaway won’t be joining Phoenix for the playoffs. After practicing twice, Hardaway decided his surgically repaired left knee isn’t strong enough. . . . Former NBA player Mark Macon, accused of failing to pay more than $75,000 in child support, was jailed in Saginaw, Mich.