Knicks Prove Too Clutch for the Raptors

Resilient as ever, the New York Knicks didn’t even need Marcus Camby to defeat the Raptors at Toronto.

Allan Houston, Latrell Sprewell and Charlie Ward made several clutch shots in the fourth quarter Sunday as the Knicks shrugged off the absence of their leading rebounder and shot blocker and defeated Toronto, 97-89.

“When things aren’t going well, we respond. Today was another opportunity to do that,� Knick guard Mark Jackson said.

The Knicks made up for their lack of height by making the most of every possession. They shot 53% from the field, held the lead for all but a few moments and performed down the stretch like a playoff-tested team.

After Toronto pulled within two points with 1:46 left, the Knicks scored the next six points--two each by Sprewell, Houston and Ward--to lock up the victory and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five first-round Eastern Conference series.

Game 4 is Wednesday night.

Houston finished with 24 points, Sprewell had 20 and Glen Rice 18. Ward scored all nine of his points in the fourth quarter for the Knicks, who always seem to play their best when the circumstances are most dire.

“We’ve had a lot of experience when we’ve had to be resilient. Our experiences in the past have just made us stronger, and we have guys who have been through it before,� Houston said. “Everybody had a look in their eyes, even on the plane ride up here [Saturday]. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but we knew how important this game was.�

This time, the Knicks had to overcome the absence of Camby as he continues to try to recover from the trauma of having his mother and two sisters held hostage last Monday. A suspect has been charged with sexually assaulting one of Camby’s sisters.

“I don’t know if Marcus is coming back,� Coach Jeff Van Gundy said.

Antonio Davis scored 21 points and Vince Carter had 20 for the Raptors, who shot five for 17 in the fourth quarter.

The Knicks made 10 of 17 field goals and seven of eight free throws in the fourth and committed only one turnover.

The Knicks held an eight-point lead, 82-74, with just over five minutes left, but Keon Clark scored six consecutive points--four on free throws--to pull Toronto within two points with 4:04 left.

Carter had a chance to tie with 2 1/2 minutes left, but he missed a jumper and Charles Oakley threw away the offensive rebound. The Knicks worked the ball to Houston for a short turnaround jumper and an 88-84 lead with 2:02 left.

After Sprewell restored a four-point lead by making two free throws with 1:33 left, Carter took another forced shot and the Knicks never were threatened again.

“We fought like hell to catch up and it took a lot out of us,� Carter said. “To win in the playoffs, you have to play a complete game like we did in Game 2.�

Around the League

NBA Commissioner David Stern said the league will look to reduce the amount of off days during the first round of the playoffs when the next television contract begins in the 2002-03 season.