Knicks 112-Hornets 109(OT) 12.20.99
NEW YORK-Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell started together in a new Knicks backcourt that finished off the Hornets' eight-game winning streak. Houston scored 31 points and Sprewell had 30 as the Knicks unveiled a bigger lineup without a natural point guard and defeated Charlotte 112-109 in overtime Monday night. The move was a surprising one by coach Jeff Van Gundy, who had steadfastly resisted the alternative backcourt that some of the players had been lobbying for since last season. Still, Van Gundy would not commit to making it permanent. In fact, he wouldn't even say for sure whether he'll use it Wednesday night against Toronto. "It's going to present a problem for most teams," Houston said. "Whether we start remains to be seen, that's Jeff's decision, but it'd be fun to try it for 8-10 minutes a game and see if we can go on a run and change the momentum of the game." Said Sprewell: "When teams are small in the backcourt and you put me and Allan in the backcourt, we can be a lot bigger than other teams and make them pay." In a wild, back-and-forth game, the Hornets gave up an 18-0 run in the fourth quarter, but then came back from a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes and survived two misses by the Knicks at the end of regulation to get to overtime. Sprewell then made three of the Knicks' first four baskets in the extra period and assisted on the other an alley-oop dunk byMarcus Camby off an inbounds pass from under the basket. Sprewell gave the Knicks a 105-101 lead on a jumper with 1:50 left, and after Camby blocked Derrick Coleman's shot, Houston all but sealed it by making two free throws with 26 seconds left. It was the first loss for the Hornets since Dec. 1. Their winning streak tied Sacramento for the longest in the NBA this season. "I told the guys after the game that we have to use this as a learning experience," coach Paul Silas said. "We have to come prepared for war, and I don't think we did that." Camby started at power forward for the Knicks, with Larry Johnson moving to Sprewell's old spot at small forward. The change ended Charlie Ward's streak of 157 consecutive starts. "My life is not built around whether I start," Ward said. "That was the best lineup for us to match up against their big lineup, and if it happens again and we continue to win, I'm all for it." The change didn't work immediately, however, as the Knicks missed their first 13 shots and fell behind by 12 points in the first quarter. It took until the third quarter for the Knicks to catch up, but they fell behind 83-75 three minutes into the fourth on a jumper by Eddie Jones, who led Charlotte with 23 points. That would be Charlotte's last basket for the next 5:17. Sprewell and Houston scored all but three points in an ensuing 18-0 run that put the Knicks ahead 93-83 with 3:59 left. Anthony Mason, who has had his differences with Silas over playing time, was on the bench for most of the Knicks' run. He checked back in with 4:06 left and had a key block on Patrick Ewing with 1:30 left. "I'm not surprised by anything anymore," Mason said. "You just have to wait for your chance to get back in." Charlotte responded to the 18-0 run by scoring 14 of the final 18 points of regulation, and Jones tied it at 97 on two free throws with 12.2 seconds left. The Knicks had two chances to win it, but Houston missed a jumper and Ewing missed a shorter jumper after grabbing the offensive rebound. Ewing grabbed a season-high 18 rebounds and scored 10 points, Larry Johnson scored 14, and Kurt Thomas and Ward added 10 apiece off the bench. Houston made 11 of 19 shots and added four rebounds and four assists. Sprewell had six rebounds, five assists and four steals. Camby added 10 rebounds and four blocks, helping New York to a 57-38 edge on the boards _ including 23-7 on the offensive end. David Wesley added 19 points, and Elden Campbell had 18 for Charlotte. Mason finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds.
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