Billups Helps Celtics End Long Losing Streak Against Knicks

The last time the Celtics beat the New York Knicks, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale were playing for Boston.

That was on Jan. 10, 1993.

Twenty-one losses later, the Celtics finally ended the longest futility streak against a single opponent in franchise history, getting 25 points from Chauncey Billups to defeat New York, 94-85, Monday night at Boston.

“I haven’t been here that long,” said Billups, Boston’s first-round draft choice last summer. “But they beat us twice this year, and that’s enough for me--especially the way they beat us.”

Antoine Walker had 16 points, six assists and seven rebounds for Boston, including a three-point basket with under two minutes left after the Knicks had cut a 12-point lead to 84-77.

Allan Houston led New York with 21 points. Charles Oakley and Chris Dudley each had nine rebounds for the Knicks.

Sacramento 111, Seattle 92--Mitch Richmond scored 24 points as the Kings ended a five-game losing streak with a victory over the SuperSonics at Sacramento.

Olden Polynice added 17 points for Sacramento, which has won seven in a row at home. Seven Kings scored in double figures, including Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf with 13 and Corliss Williamson and Michael Stewart with 12 each.

Vin Baker led Seattle with 20 points. Sam Perkins added 16 for the SuperSonics.

Seattle made only 16 of 46 shots in the first half and were bothered by the presence of Stewart, who blocked three shots.

Seattle, who shot only 38% from the field, missed 14 of its first 17 shots, including 0-for-7 from three-point range.

San Antonio 115, Houston 90--After losing by 25 points in Houston two days earlier, the Spurs routed the Rockets at San Antonio behind David Robinson’s 34 points and Avery Johnson’s 27.

“When you get beat, it’s a challenge to your courage and tests you as a player,” said Robinson, who also had a season-high six blocked shots. “Tonight was a good response to the whipping we took the other night.”

Vinny Del Negro added 17 points for the Spurs, who have won 14 consecutive games at home. San Antonio made 21 of 23 free throws and shot 59% from the field.

Charles Barkley had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Houston before he was ejected for arguing a call in the fourth quarter. Eddie Johnson added 14 points for the Rockets.

Toronto 91, Philadelphia 87--Oliver Miller scored a go-ahead layup with 3.5 seconds left at Toronto and the Raptors tied a team record with their third consecutive win.

Doug Christie, who scored 26 points for the Raptors, intercepted Jim Jackson’s pass with under three seconds left and dunked to seal the victory. Damon Stoudamire added 20 points and eight assists for Toronto.

Allen Iverson scored only 13 for Philadelphia, but he missed nine minutes of the second quarter because of a cut that required five stitches to his upper lip. He was hit with an unintentional elbow from Stoudamire, who got called for a reaching foul.

Phoenix 96, Atlanta 91--Rex Chapman scored 13 of his 26 points in the third quarter and Danny Manning got nine of his 19 in the final quarter in the Suns’ win at Atlanta.

It was the fifth victory in six games for the Suns and the fourth loss in a row for Atlanta, which was led by Steve Smith’s 26 points.

Cleveland 94, Miami 93--Rookie center Zydrunas Ilgauskas scored 23 points, including a free throw with 1.3 seconds left that gave the Cavaliers a victory at Miami.

The win was the third in a row for the Cavaliers, who ended a 10-game losing streak at Miami Arena.