Sprewell’s Shooting Leads Knicks, 97-93

There are tough angles and there are very tough angles, and then there’s the angle from which Latrell Sprewell made the game-clinching shot Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

Sprewell scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter, including a winning corner jumper from behind the backboard with 15 seconds left as the New York Knicks defeated the Detroit Pistons, 97-93.

Combined with Milwaukee’s loss to New Orleans, the Knicks moved within two games of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East.

Chauncey Billups led Detroit with 27 points and Ben Wallace grabbed 18 rebounds -- ending his streak of five games with at least 20.

Atlanta 114, Philadelphia 105 -- Despite having the fifth-worst record in the Eastern Conference, the Hawks improved to 3-0 this season against the 76ers. Glenn Robinson matched his season high with 37 points and Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 10 points in the final five minutes at Philadelphia as the Hawks ended a three-game losing streak.

Miami 107, Toronto 98 -- The Heat ended a six-game losing streak at home and scored 100 points for only the eighth time this season. The Heat got a season-high 53 points from their reserves, including 18 from Malik Allen. Vince Carter scored 30 points for the Raptors, who have lost seven of eight and six straight on the road.

Minnesota 101, San Antonio 94 -- The Timberwolves outscored the Spurs, 12-5, in overtime at San Antonio, led by four points each by Kevin Garnett and Troy Hudson. Garnett had 24 points and 12 rebounds and finished two assists shy of his sixth triple-double of the season.

Orlando 109, Cleveland 85 -- Tracy McGrady scored 39 points in 30 minutes and watched from the bench during the fourth quarter at Orlando as the Magic completed a four-game season sweep of the Cavaliers.

Indiana 101, Memphis 92 -- Jermaine O’Neal tied his career high with 38 points and grabbed 18 rebounds as the Pacers rallied from a 19-point deficit at Indianapolis. The Pacers played without Ron Artest, who was suspended for two games after committing his eighth flagrant foul of the season Wednesday night against Boston.

New Orleans 113, Milwaukee 98 -- The Hornets built a 70-44 halftime lead that proved insurmountable at New Orleans. From the end of the third quarter to several minutes into the fourth, the Bucks used an 18-9 run to pull to 93-77 with about nine minutes left, but the Hornets quickly increased their lead to 21 points.

Phoenix 109, Washington 83 -- Stephon Marbury scored 23 points and Joe Johnson added 19 off the bench as the Suns spoiled Michael Jordan’s final game in Phoenix. The Suns kept pace with Houston for eighth place in the Western Conference.

Houston 117, Golden State 107 -- By winning at Oakland, the Rockets stayed tied with Phoenix for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, 3 1/2 games ahead of the 10th-place Warriors.

Seattle 101, Denver 99 -- Ray Allen scored 38 points, including a technical free throw with 2.4 seconds left at Seattle. The SuperSonics remain four games behind Houston and Phoenix for the final Western Conference playoff spot.