Knicks 114 - Sixers 112

January 10, 2003

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The New York Knicks set a franchise record for 3-pointers in a game, but had to survive a late scare to win Friday night.

Charlie Ward made a crucial 3-pointer with 31 seconds left, one of New York's club-record 16, and Allan Houston knocked the ball away from Allen Iverson on a potential game-tying shot in the final seconds as the Knicks defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 114-112. 
 
With Philadelphia trailing 114-111, Iverson made a free throw with 3.1 left but missed the second one intentionally. He grabbed the loose ball, but his 18-footer knocked away by Houston.

``I just saw him catch the ball and I think he slipped a little and that enabled me to get there,'' said Houston, who scored 31 points. ``It was a scary moment because it looked like he would get an open look.''

The Knicks made six free throws in the final 24 seconds, including three by Ward, to snap a three-game losing streak.

The loss extended the 76ers' skid to five in a row -- including three at home -- and 13 of their last 17.

``Sometimes when things go bad, they really go bad,'' said Aaron McKie, who had 16 points for the 76ers. ``Eventually, I hope things start going our way.''

Philadelphia's Eric Snow made a 15-foot jumper to break a 105-105 tie with 53 seconds left, but Ward's 3-pointer with 31.1 remaining gave the Knicks a one-point lead.

``Everybody helped,'' Ward said of his 3. ''(Clarence Weatherspoon) made a hustle play then (Latrell Sprewell) saved it. The defense was running around so I got a good look.''

Phildelphia's Kenny Thomas missed two free throws with 26 seconds left and Kurt Thomas got the rebound. He made one of two free throws and grabbed his own rebound, leading to two free throws by Houston to put New York ahead 111-107 with 20.8 seconds left.

Sprewell had 31 points, Ward scored 17 and Kurt Thomas 15 for the Knicks, who were 16-for-32 from beyond the 3-point arc.

``It's been a long time coming,'' Sprewell said of New York's shooting. ``A lot of guys put up points tonight, and that makes us tough to beat.''

Iverson, who started the game despite sustaining a right quad contusion in Wednesday's loss to Detroit, scored 30 points. Keith Van Horn had 23, Snow scored 19, McKie added 16 and Kenny Thomas had 12 rebounds.

Iverson was unsure whether he would play and only decided to do so just prior to tipoff.

``I've never had an injury like this, so I wasn't sure,'' Iverson said. ``It hurts, a lot, and the loss just makes it worse.''

Iverson and Sprewell had 11 points each in the third quarter, and the 76ers were ahead 82-81 entering the final period.

The Knicks scored 15 of the last 19 points of the first quarter to take a 26-19 lead. Philadelphia came back with a 17-9 run to end the second period andlead 53-52 at halftime.

Notes

New York's 16 3s were an arena record, with the 76ers holding the old mark of 14 in 1996 against Indiana. ... Sprewell and Greg Buckner received double technicals after a shoving match in the second quarter. The two had back-to-back heated plays while covering one another, and the shoving came after Sprewell committed a hard foul on Buckner. ... Knicks longtime trainer Mike Saunders was not at the game due to the death of his father. ... Both teams shot better than 50 percent. ... The 76ers are 0-3 on this currentsix-game homestand, their longest of the season.

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