MARIETTA, Ga. -- Atlanta Hawks center Dikembe Mutombo predicts his team will win today's decisive Game 5 against the Detroit Pistons. In fact, he's guaranteeing it.
Mutombo made his surprising forecast after the Hawks practiced Saturday, the morning after Atlanta's disastrous 103-82 blowout by the Pistons.It was Detroit's second straight rout after the Hawks had easily won the first two games at home in the best-of-5 series.
"I think we are going to win tomorrow night," a thoughtful Mutombo said, sitting on a chair after the workout at Life University in suburban Atlanta. Then his conviction got even firmer.
"I guarantee a win," continued Mutombo, who dominated the Pistons in the opening two games. "I can see it in my teammates' faces. There's a determination there."
Mutombo averaged 22.5 points and 16 rebounds in 90-70 and 89-69 victories before getting a total of only 16 points and 18 rebounds in the two losses at Auburn Hills. Detroit smothered the 7-foot-2 Mutombo with double coverage in its 79-63 and 103-83 victories.
"We played bad the last two games, but watching the tapes it was small errors that can be corrected," he said.
The Hawks, who have played virtually the entire four games without starting forwards Alan Henderson and Chris Crawford, will be without both on Sunday. Henderson has an eye injury and Crawford a separated shoulder.
Henderson, who had an MRI on Friday that indicated surgery might be needed correct his blurred vision, will have another MRI. In any event, he's lost for the playoffs.
KNICKS VS. HEAT: All four games have been lopsided, and yet the New York Knicks and Miami Heat are going down to the wire. Again.
For the third year in a row, the bitter rivals will clash in a winner-take-all playoff game Sunday at Miami Arena. And for the third year in a row, a team will be shorthanded for the deciding game.
Knicks point guard Chris Childs missed practice Saturday because of a bruised right thigh, and he's unlikely to play in Game 5, coach Jeff Van Gundy said. That will mean more minutes for starter Charlie Ward, with seldom-used Rick Brunson his backup.
In addition, Patrick Ewing's minutes could be limited, although he's likely to play. The 36-year-old center has been hampered by a sore left Achilles' tendon that forced him to miss 12 games this season.
The past two years, fights led to suspensions that affected the final game. Miami eliminated New York in Game 7 in 1997, when the Knicks were without Larry Johnson and John Starks. The Knicks beat the Heat in the deciding Game 5 last year, when Miami was without Alonzo Mourning.
There have been no fights this year. There have been no close finishes, either.
New York, seeded eighth in the Eastern Conference, beat Miami by 20 and 24 points. The top-seeded Heat won Game 2 by 10 points, and their 87-72 comeback victory Friday evened the uneven series.