Knicks 84, Heat 81
The absence of Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning didn't lessen the intensity of the NBA's fiercest rivalry.
Brian Grant had 24 points and nine rebounds, and Anthony Mason added 19 points and 18 rebounds as the Miami Heat exploited their size advantage over the New York Knicks in an 84-81 victory Wednesday night.
"Because of Patrick and Zo, it didn't feel like a typical Knicks-Heat," Miami's Tim Hardaway said. "I've been through them all, so I should know. If we get back in the playoffs against each other again, of course it'll go back to being the way it was."
Ewing was traded by the Knicks to Seattle in September and Mourning is out for the season, giving the matchup a different look than the one that has become a staple during the NBA playoffs.
Grant, one of Miami's offseason additions, jumped right into the fray in his first taste of the rivalry.
"It was cool. Both teams were really playing to win," Grant said. "It wasn't as vicious as what I usually see on TV, but I can see where it's going to get like that later."
Grant missed a pair of free throws that would have clinched it with 9.6 seconds left, but Chris Childs came up short on a 3-pointer with 2 seconds left to end New York's only chance of the final minute.
The Heat snapped a four-game losing streak and won for just the sixth time in 15 games.
Latrell Sprewell was practically a one-man offense for the Knicks down the stretch, scoring 12 of his 22 points in the final quarter.
SPURS 82, KINGS 79: Tim Duncan had 22 points and 13 rebounds and made two key plays in the final minute for host San Antonio.
With the Spurs leading 76-75, Duncan made an 18-footer from the top of the key over Chris Webber with 46.7 seconds left. Duncan then came up with a loose ball after Webber had it knocked away by David Robinson on Sacramento's ensuing possession.
Webber led the Kings with 25 points and 17 rebounds.
HORNETS 103, RAPTORS 79: David Wesley scored 32 points and Jamal Mashburn added 18 to lead host Charlotte to its sixth straight victory.
The Raptors were without star Vince Carter for the second straight game, both losses. Carter, the NBA's second-leading scorer at 27.5 points per game, is out with a strained left quadriceps.
76ERS 93, WIZARDS 87: Allen Iverson scored 29 points and Theo Ratliff had 18 points and tied his career high with nine blocks as Philadelphia won at Washington.
Mitch Richmond led Washington with 26 points.
PISTONS 97, NETS 76: Jerry Stackhouse scored 31 points and Ben Wallace pulled down a career-high 23 rebounds to lead host Detroit.
For the second game in a row, Stackhouse was the only Pistons starter to reach double figures, but Dana Barros — activated before the game — had 18 off the bench.
Stephon Marbury scored 20 points to lead New Jersey.
NUGGETS 107, TIMBERWOLVES 100: Nick Van Exel scored 30 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer with 2:12 remaining, to lead Denver at Minnesota.
Todd Day's three-point play gave Minnesota its first lead since the middle of the third quarter with 2:28 to play in the game. But Van Exel promptly put Denver up 100-98 with his fifth 3-pointer.
GRIZZLIES 109, SUNS 106 (2 OT): Shareef Abdur-Rahim scored 33 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Vancouver outlasted Phoenix.
Jason Kidd had a season-high 34 points, but missed a 3-pointer that would have sent it to a third overtime. Shawn Marion scored 14 points and tied his season high with 19 rebounds.
CLIPPERS 106, WARRIORS 83: At Los Angeles, Lamar Odom recorded his fourth career triple-double as the Clippers ended a five-game losing streak.
Odom had 16 points, 12 rebounds and 11 of the Clippers' season-high 26 assists in a matchup of the worst two teams in the West.