Knicks 101-Rockets 90 12.11.99

Player of the Game:SPREWELL-22Pts 8-13Fgs Best Scorer:Latrell Sprewell-22 Best Rebounder:LJ,Ewing-5 Best Passer:Johnson-7

HOUSTON-Patrick Ewing scored 20 points, including 14 in the first quarter, in his best game since coming back from an injury as the New York Knicks won their fourth straight game, 101-90 over the Houston Rockets. Latrell Sprewell, playing despite the flu, scored 11 of his 22 points in a tight third quarter before the Knicks pulled away in the fourth. Allan Houston also scored 20, including 10 in the third period. Ewing, who shot a combined 3-for-19 in his first two games after missing the first 20 of the season recovering from a partially torn Achilles' tendon, shot 6-for-10 from the field and 8-for-8 from the line. New York led for most of the first half but the Rockets cut the Knicks' lead to 48-45 at the half, and a 10-7 third-quarter start tied it at 55-55 with 8:41 to go. Sprewell then hit three straight baskets and the Knicks held a 76-70 lead at the start of the final quarter. A 17-8 run to start the fourth quarter was enough to put the Rockets away. Steve Francis led the Rockets with 20 points and Shandon Anderson and Matt Bullard had 12 each. The Knicks jumped on Houston from the start and led 28-23 after the first quarter. The Rockets countered with a 16-11 run to start the second period, tying it at 39-39 on consecutive 3-point baskets by Bullard. Francis hit a fast break layup with 1:49 left in the first half for Houston's only lead of the half, 43-41, but a 3-point basket by Larry Johnson and consecutive baskets by Allan Houston put the Knicks back in the lead.