Knicks’ Brown Is Hospitalized

New York Knick Coach Larry Brown was to be hospitalized overnight after becoming ill during the third quarter of Thursday night’s game against the Cavaliers at Cleveland.

The 65-year-old Brown, who has had health issues in recent years, was taken from Quicken Loans Arena on a stretcher after New York’s 91-87 loss. He appeared alert and was sitting upright with oxygen tubes in his nose as he was wheeled out to an emergency vehicle.

Brown didn’t say anything while being taken to an undisclosed hospital. The Knicks flew back to New York.

Club spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz said Brown was examined by Cavalier team doctors and a Knick physician after leaving the bench. Brown’s vital signs were “stable” but because his symptoms came on so quickly, doctors thought it was best that he be admitted to the hospital for further tests and observation.

Supranowitz said Brown had an upset stomach.

“All Larry told me to tell you was that, ‘I’m fine,’ ” Supranowitz said.

The injuries have piled up as high as the losses for the Knicks, who dropped to 22-56 after blowing a nine-point fourth quarter lead to the Cavaliers.

Cleveland’s LeBron James, resting a sprained left ankle for the NBA playoffs, sat out his first game this season.

Larry Hughes scored 26 points and had 13 rebounds for the Cavaliers, who won their 10th in a row at home.

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Orlando 92, San Antonio 80 -- Tim Duncan scored 31 points -- and surpassed 8,000 career rebounds with 13 boards -- but it wasn’t enough for the Spurs at San Antonio, who are trying to hold off Dallas for the lead in the Southwest Division and best record in the Western Conference.

The Magic is 2 1/2 games behind both Chicago and Philadelphia in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

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Phoenix 117, Dallas 104 -- Shawn Marion scored 29 points at Phoenix to help the Suns hurt the Mavericks’ chances for the best record in the Western Conference. Tim Thomas had 22 points and Raja Bell 21 to help hand Dallas its second road loss in as many nights and seventh defeat in its last 14 games.