NBA Roundup : Knicks Hand Mavericks 12th Consecutive Loss, 99-98

Patrick Ewing scored 26 points, including two free throws with 2:11 left, to lead the New York Knicks past the Dallas Mavericks, 99-98, Thursday night at New York, the Mavericks’ 12th consecutive loss.

The Knicks tied the score four times in the fourth quarter before taking their first lead, 94-93, on a three-point basket by Mark Jackson with 3:28 left.

After a free throw by Dallas’ Adrian Dantley made it 94-94, Ewing’s two free throws put the Knicks ahead to stay. Sam Perkins, who led the Mavericks with 21 points, then missed a pair of free throws with 1:49 remaining.

A basket by Charles Oakley and another free throw by Ewing gave New York a 99-94 lead, but a three-pointer by Perkins narrowed the margin to two with 1:04 left.

Perkins converted one of two free throws with 32 seconds left to make it 99-98. Jackson missed two free throws with five seconds left, but the clock ran out after Dallas failed to get the rebound.

Kenny Walker hit nine of his first 10 shots and scored a season-high 19 points for New York. Rolando Blackman had 18 and Dantley 17 for the Mavericks, who are stuck in their longest losing streak since 1981. Dallas has lost every game since starting center James Donaldson injured his knee.

Houston 109, New Jersey 101--The Rockets snapped a nine-game road losing streak as Akeem Olajuwon scored 29 points and grabbed 10 rebounds at East Rutherford, N.J.

Houston, which has won three straight, used a 13-3 run late in the third quarter to turn a 65-64 deficit into a 77-68 lead it never surrendered.

Golden State 113, Charlotte 104--Chris Mullin led a 15-2 run in the last 3:43 of the third quarter as Golden State won at Charlotte, N.C., to snap a season-high four-game losing streak.

Mullin hit a jumper and two free throws to ignite the run and added a three-point basket with one second left in the quarter to finish it.

In between, rookie Mitch Richmond added a pair of free throws, Winston Garland two field goals and Rod Higgins a layup.

Mullin had a game-high 36 points, and Richmond added 28 points and 12 rebounds.

Kurt Rambis had a career-high 23 points for Charlotte.

Denver 123, Seattle 116--Michael Adams and Walter Davis, stymied during the first three quarters of the game at Denver, scored 14 of the Nuggets’ first 18 points in the fourth quarter to spark the victory.

It was the Nuggets’ 14th straight win at McNichols Arena, where they are 30-5 overall. The SuperSonics suffered their ninth straight road loss.

Seattle was within 92-91 early in the fourth quarter before a 10-0 run put the Nuggets in control.

Adams, who missed all seven of his shots through the first three quarters, had three free throws and a three-point basket to begin the surge. He scored 13 of his 20 points in the last quarter.

Davis, who had only two points heading into the fourth quarter, had four baskets in an 18-9 surge that opened the final period.

Sacramento 135, Phoenix 123--Brad Lohaus came off the bench to score 23 of his career-high 29 points in the second half as the Kings snapped a six-game losing streak to the Suns.

Tom Chambers produced a game-high 35 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, for Phoenix, which lost its sixth consecutive road game. Kevin Johnson tallied 22 points for the Suns.