Knicks 99 – Hawks 95
The Knicks know it will take a miracle for them to slip into the playoffs. But that’s not stopping them from playing the games as if they are truly meaningful, from diving on the floor for loose balls – even if the half-full Garden was half-asleep for much of the contest.
With Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell feeding off each other perfectly down the stretch to turn back the Hawks’ rally, the Garden crowd came alive. And so are the Knicks, technically speaking.
Houston bagged 29 points and Sprewell had 21 as the Knicks avoided mathematical elimination with a 99-95 victory over the Hawks. Tonight, it could end officially if the Bucks beat the Clippers and – yes – the players will be watching. The tragic number still stands at one, as the Knicks (35-43) are three games out of the eighth seed with four to play.
“We’re still in it until we’re mathematically out of it,” Kurt Thomas said.
It was only the 11th time this season both Houston and Sprewell hit for 20 or more – a telling stat that both guys have trouble staying in rhythm when one of them takes over. Not last night. Their chemistry was beautiful.
“Our motivation is to finish strong as possible,” Sprewell said. “We know our chances are very slim. But we’re going to keep fighting.”
You expect Houston, who had seven assists, to have huge nights now during his banner season, but yesterday Sprewell, for the second straight game, had an extra bounce to his step. He attacked the hole hard, then capped off his evening with two big 3-pointers to preserve the win in the final 1:06. He also had nine boards.
In the second quarter, Sprewell executed one of his most emphatically athletic plays of the season. Too often settling for long jumpers recently, Sprewell got the ball on the left wing, was open but instead drove hard to the basket. He leaped for a power right-handed dunk attempt against Theo Ratliff. The Hawks’ 7-foot shotblocker got a big piece of it but Sprewell’s force was too much.
“I’m just trying to make the right decision,” Sprewell said. “I’ll attack if they give me something. If not, I’ll try to find the open guy. I felt comfortable all game.”
Said Don Chaney “He had it at the beginning of the game. We were very energetic defensively. We had a couple of guys hit the floor for the first time in a while.”
Indeed, with 2:15 left in the half, the Knicks did everything to capture a loose ball. First, Travis Knight dove for it, Sprewell reached down for it, then Shandon Anderson made a wild slide, clutching it. And the Knicks were up 46-36 at the time.
The Knicks led by 16 late in the third and 14 after three before the Hawks made it a game. At 91-88 with 1:35 left, Houston sized up Glenn Robinson at the perimeter and drilled a top-of-the-key jumper over with the shot clock down to two seconds. Then Houston’s drive set up Sprewell in the right corner to pump the lead to 96-88 with 1:06 left.
At 96-92, Sprewell iced it with another trey – again getting an open look from the right corner behind the arc, with Houston driving the lane to force a double team.
“He knows when to shoot it, when to drive it and when to pass it, also when to shot-fake,” Chaney said. “I hope he continues to grow.”
