By CHRIS SHERIDAN
AP Basketball Writer
October 10, 2002 (Yahoo! Sports)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Danny Johnson, a long shot to make the roster, scored 16 points to lead five players in double figures as the New York Knicks held off the San Antonio Spurs 97-93 Thursday night in an NBA exhibition game.

Johnson was 5-for-6 from the field in eight minutes in the second quarter, scoring 12 points in the period to help New York pull ahead. The lead grew as large as 16 before San Antonio fought back to tie it 90-90 late in the fourth.

After a turnover by Malik Rose, the Knicks swung the ball around the perimeter and avoided being fouled until just five seconds remained. Howard Eisley then made two free throws for a 96-92 lead.

Johnson, a shooting guard from College of Charleston, got 25 minutes of playing time as the backup to Allan Houston and Shandon Anderson. He missed all three of his shots in the second half and committed four turnovers, but it seems he may have leapfrogged over Toby Bailey and Tim James in the battle for New York's final roster spot.

``Each guy we have here has a chance (to make the team),'' coach Don Chaney said. ``The evaluation will be on a daily basis, and we're going to come up with the best guys that meet our purposes.''

Tim Duncan had 16 points in 21 minutes for the Spurs. Duncan also failed to stop New York's Antonio McDyess on three consecutive second-quarter possessions when McDyess scored on three nifty low post moves.

McDyess finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in just 17 minutes. Eisley and Houston each scored 14 points.

Rose had 11 points, seven turnovers and five fouls and was just 1-for-7 from the field.

There were a total of 65 personal fouls and 76 foul shots in the tightly officiated game.

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