Knicks 103 - Hawks 98

By CHRIS SHERIDAN, AP Basketball Writer
January 28, 2003

NEW YORK (AP) -- A couple of things people might not have noticed about the New York Knicks: They're a very good 3-point shooting team, and they're quietly re-entering the picture in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Latrell Sprewell made four of New York's 10 3-pointers and scored 21 points, surpassing 20 for the third straight game, as the Knicks defeated the Atlanta Hawks 103-98 Tuesday night.

Allan Houston scored 24 -- including 13 in the fourth quarter -- and Kurt Thomas 18 for the Knicks, who used their underappreciated 3-point shooting to open a big early lead and then pull away after Shareef Abdur-Rahim brought Atlanta back in the third quarter.

The Knicks began the night as the NBA's second-most accurate 3-point shooting team, connecting on 38 percent of their attempts -- second only to Milwaukee's 38.6. They finished 10-for-23 (43.5 percent).

``I'm not going to say we're great. I think we've become very efficient at shooting the 3-point shot,'' Houston said.

Abdur-Rahim scored 30 points -- including 19 in the third quarter -- and Glenn Robinson added 26 for the Hawks. Abdur-Rahim also grabbed a season-high 17 rebounds.
 
The Knicks made their first five 3-point shots -- three by Sprewell and two by Howard Eisley -- then missed their next six. Houston ended the string of misses with a 3-pointer early in the second quarter for a 44-29 lead.

Atlanta coach Terry Stotts implored his team to play some defense, then screamed at them during a timeout after Charlie Ward tipped in a miss.

Ward and Sprewell hit 3-pointers late in the half to help the Knicks to a 58-48 lead at intermission.

The Knicks have won five of their last six to move within five games of .500.

About to embark on a three-game road trip to Miami, Memphis and Milwaukee before returning home to face the Clippers and Lakers before the All-Star break, the Knicks hope to continue their recent run of success.

Not so long ago, they began the season 1-8 amid an unhealthy atmosphere following the season-ending injury to Antonio McDyess and the indefinite banishment of Sprewell for reporting to training camp with an undisclosed hand injury. But the team has been playing better under the leadership of coach Don Chaney.

``I'm very happy with the way they've started to come together,'' Chaney said. ``Earlier in the year we would succumb to pressure and lose games. Over the past 10-15 games they've shown they can hang on and not panic.''

Abdur-Rahim, after shooting 3-for-15 in the first half, was unstoppable in the third to bring the Hawks back. Making four layups, a dunk, two jump hooks and two jump shots, he scored 19 points in the quarter as the Hawks took their first lead of the game.

The Knicks held a 77-75 lead entering the fourth, then began the period with a 5-0 run ending with a 3-pointer by Ward. After the Hawks closed to 82-79, Ward had a 3-pointer and an 18-footer in an 8-0 run that gave New York an 11-point lead.

Atlanta got no closer than five the rest of the way.

``They just stuck with what they were doing and executed it to a T,'' Atlanta's Jason Terry said. ``With us, we're new. It's a brand new team. We'vegot a lot of growing pains right now.''

Notes

Terry aggravated a left hip contusion in a collision with Knicks C Michael Doleac early in the fourth quarter. Terry returned and made a 3-pointer, then left for good with 5:24 remaining and the Hawks down by 10. He will be re-evaluated Wednesday and is listed as day-to-day. ... Atlanta has lost six in a row at Madison Square Garden. ... Atlanta is 3-20 when allowing 100 or more points. ... Mets pitcher Tom Glavine, formerly of Atlanta, satcourtside.

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