Hornets’ Davis Stings Magic

Baron Davis was deprived of winning the game in regulation--so he did the job in overtime instead.

Official Bernie Fryer waved off Davis’ three-point basket at the fourth-quarter buzzer, but he scored nine of his 33 points after that, and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the Orlando Magic, 110-100, at Orlando, Fla., for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Saturday.

“I thought I got it off in time, but the ref didn’t think so,” said Davis, the former UCLA Bruin who also had 14 rebounds and 10 assists. “So we had to go to overtime.”

The Hornets can advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals with a victory in Game 4 Tuesday night in Orlando.

With 0.7 seconds remaining in regulation, Davis caught P.J. Brown’s inbounds pass at the top of the circle, turned and banked a shot in the basket to apparently win the game. Television replays clearly showed that Davis got the shot off before time expired.

But almost as soon as Davis released the ball, Fryer began waving his arms and shouting that the shot was no good.

Fryer said that during the timeout preceding the shot, the officiating crew discussed what a player would be allowed to do--and that a catch-turn-release sequence wasn’t going to count.

“He had to cock to get a three-pointer up to get muscle behind it,” Fryer said. “And I said you can’t do that in seven-tenths.”

That reasoning worked for Orlando Coach Doc Rivers, who acknowledged thinking the game was over when Davis’ shot found the basket.

“When you think about it, it is impossible to catch, turn, jump and shoot in .7 seconds, and that’s basically what Bernie Fryer said right away,” Rivers said.

The clock, Fryer added, is merely used to supplement an official’s call in that situation.

“You can rely on the clock, but I’m going to rely on my judgment on how long it takes him to get the shot off,” he said.

In overtime, Davis made two three-point baskets and three free throws as Charlotte outscored Orlando, 18-8.

Orlando’s Tracy McGrady scored 37 points.

Charlotte was without Jamal Mashburn, its leading scorer during the regular season.

Mashburn is still recovering from mild anemia and vitamin deficiency.

Toronto 94, Detroit 84--Antonio Davis made 14 of 19 shots from the field and scored 30 points as the Toronto Raptors avoided elimination at Toronto.

Keon Clark added 18 points on seven of 11 shooting, Alvin Williams scored 17, Chris Childs had 12 points and 10 assists in his second consecutive start and Morris Peterson led the defensive effort on the Pistons’ Jerry Stackhouse.

Stackhouse, who had 31 points in the Pistons’ Game 2 victory, missed his first seven shots, was scoreless in the first half and finished with 11 points on two of 10 shooting.

Chucky Atkins led the Pistons with 21 points.

San Antonio 102, Seattle 75--Tim Duncan had 27 points and 13 rebounds and Tony Parker added 23 points as the Spurs took a 2-1 lead in their series at Seattle.

Game 4 will be played in Seattle Wednesday night. If a Game 5 is necessary, it will be played Friday night in San Antonio.

The Spurs won without starting center David Robinson, who was resting his injured back and missed his second game in a row.