Sprewell Stops Knicks’ Slide

Latrell Sprewell ended New York’s misery.

Sprewell had 35 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter, and the Knicks halted their eight-game losing streak with a 96-92 victory over the Raptors on Wednesday night at Toronto.

Sprewell, scoreless in New York’s 43-point loss to Charlotte on Monday, held Vince Carter to 18 points. Sprewell was 13 for 25 from the field to help the Knicks end their longest skid in 15 seasons.

“It was a tough stretch for us, so hopefully we can learn from the way we played tonight,” Sprewell said. “I wasn’t happy. I was really disappointed with the way that we lost as a team. I just didn’t want any letdowns like that again.”

Alvin Williams had 23 points and Antonio Davis had 21 for the Raptors.

Before the game, Knick President Scott Layden refused to say whether Coach Don Chaney could be in danger of losing his job. The Knicks are 5-16 since Chaney replaced Jeff Van Gundy.

“They really stepped it up,” Chaney said. “They played aggressive and they fought.”

After former Knick Chris Childs missed a three-point shot, Sprewell made a three-point play on a tough running jumper, giving New York a 95-88 lead with 1:18 left.

“We needed a basket,” said Sprewell, who pumped his fist after making the shot. “Once it went down I felt it was important to make the free throw to put pressure on them.”

Detroit 104, Minnesota 83--Jerry Stackhouse scored 18 of his season-high 40 points in the third quarter and the Pistons surprised the Timberwolves at Auburn Hills, Mich.

Minnesota lost for only the second time in 13 games, committing a season-high 24 turnovers.

Cliff Robinson scored 20 for Detroit.

Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves.

Boston 98, Indiana 94--Erick Strickland scored a season-high 22 points and Vitaly Potapenko had 12 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics at Boston.

It was only the second time in the last 113 games that someone other than Antoine Walker and Paul Pierce led the Celtics in scoring.

Kenny Anderson and Potapenko scored the final 11 points for Boston. Anderson had 17 points and eight assists.

Jalen Rose scored five consecutive points to pull the Pacers within 92-91 with two minutes remaining.

Reggie Miller had 26 points for Indiana, Rose had 20 and Jermaine O’Neal had 19.

Charlotte 111, Seattle 101--David Wesley scored 21 points and Baron Davis had 20 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds to lead the Hornets at Charlotte, N.C.

Vin Baker and Gary Payton each scored 24 points and Rashard Lewis had 22 for the SuperSonics, who trailed by 27 points in the second quarter.

San Antonio 98, Utah 92--Steve Smith made five three-point shots and scored 29 points, including 18 in the second quarter, to spark the Spurs at Salt Lake City.

Tim Duncan had 26 points to give San Antonio its eighth consecutive victory against the Jazz, which pulled within 90-88 with two minutes to play on a jumper by Karl Malone.

The Spurs were 10 for 10 in free throws in the fourth quarter and 28 for 29 overall. They were 10 for 18 (55%) from three-point range and 30 for 57 (52%) from the field, but became the first NBA team not to have an offensive rebound.

Malone had 23 points and 10 rebounds, John Amaechi scored a season-high 18 and Andre Kirilenko had 16.

Golden State 107, Memphis 95--Antawn Jamison scored 30 points for Golden State at Oakland.

Danny Fortson and Erick Dampier each had double-doubles for the Warriors, who won for only the second time in their last 12 games.

Fortson had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Dampier had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Larry Hughes scored 20 points.

Pau Gasol recorded his 16th double-double, the most by any rookie this season, with 27 points and 10 rebounds for the Grizzlies.