Knicks Give Childs a Rude Homecoming in New York

Chris Childs was booed constantly and jeered relentlessly in his return to New York. Mark Jackson didn’t make him feel any more welcome.

Jackson outplayed Childs in the pivotal third quarter to lead the New York Knicks past Toronto, 88-72, Thursday night, preventing the Raptors from sweeping the four-game season series.

Childs became an instant villain in his first game at Madison Square Garden since being traded last month to Toronto for Jackson. He was booed every time he touched the ball and jeered each time he made one of the miscues that had become all too familiar during Childs’ 4 1/2 seasons with the Knicks.

“They were not happy with him. They were not happy at all,” Knick forward Latrell Sprewell said.

Kurt Thomas scored 22 points, Sprewell had 21 and Jackson added 11 for the Knicks, who ended a six-game regular-season losing streak against the Raptors.

Vince Carter scored 22 points for Toronto but got little help from his teammates. Antonio Davis was the only other Raptor in double figures with 13 points.

Childs finished with eight assists but missed all four of his shots and did not score. Jackson had three assists and five rebounds.

“They booed us when I was here, so I’m used to that,” said Childs, who was expecting a less-than-warm reception but probably never imagined it would be so sustained. “Latrell asked me what did I do, and I said maybe I look like Reggie Miller.”

The bad feelings between the Knicks and Childs were heightened during a game 11 days earlier when Childs taunted the Knicks during a 10-point Raptor victory over New York. Coach Jeff Van Gundy called Childs a “barking dog.”

Seattle 108, Milwaukee 102--Gary Payton scored 22 points to lead a balanced attack as the SuperSonics beat the Bucks at Milwaukee.

Milwaukee’s lead in the Central Division slipped to 1 1/2 games over Charlotte as the Bucks lost for the third time in four games. Seattle won its third in a row.

The Bucks lost point guard Sam Cassell one minute into the fourth quarter. Cassell strained his right hip flexor late in the third period and Milwaukee struggled without him in the fourth, committing five turnovers and scoring just 19 points.

Dallas 103, Minnesota 83--At Dallas, Michael Finley led six Mavericks in double figures with 22 points as Dallas won its season-high fifth in a row and 42nd of the season, guaranteeing it will finish with a winning record.

The Timberwolves are losing their grip on the Western Conference’s eighth and final playoff spot. Minnesota (38-28) has dropped four of its last five, helping Houston close within a game.

Dallas has won eight of nine to catch Portland for the fifth spot in the West. The Mavericks never trailed, making seven of their first eight shots and opening a 20-point lead in the first quarter.

Boston 105, Phoenix 101--Paul Pierce scored 42 points as the Celtics ended the Suns’ two-game winning streak at Phoenix.

Pierce was 13 of 25 from the field and was perfect on 13 tries from the line. Boston led by three points with 21 seconds left before Milt Palacio hit two free throws and Bryant Stith made one to seal the win.

Houston 108, New Jersey 106--Cuttino Mobley scored 30 points and Moochie Norris scored three of his 17 points in the final minute as the Rockets won at Houston.

Maurice Taylor scored eight of his 25 points in the final 3:23, leading the Rockets to their seventh victory in nine games.