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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
CLEVELAND (AP) – Ah, Houston, we no longer have a problem.
|  | | Allan Houston broke loose from a recent scoring slump with a career-high 39 points. |
Allan Houston broke out of a scoring and shooting slump with a career-high 39 points Tuesday night, leading the New York Knicks to their fifth straight win, 110-75 over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"He was unbelievable," said Knicks guard Mark Jackson. "It
was unfair for awhile. If it was my son, I would have stopped the
fight."
Houston had been averaging just 14 points – five below his
average – on 37 percent shooting this month before busting out
against the embarrassed Cavs, who have lost 10 of 12 and are 9-36
since starting the season 15-7.
The 35-point home loss matched the largest in Cleveland's 31-year history. The Cavs lost 120-85 to Chicago on Dec. 1, 1990.
"How do you think I feel about that?" said an annoyed Cavs
coach Randy Wittman.
Houston started slowly, missing his first four field-goal
attempts, before making 15 of his next 19, including eight straight
to start the second half. He capped his night with a 3-pointer from
beyond the top of the key with 6:16 remaining to eclipse his
previous high set on March 23, 1996, for Detroit at Atlanta.
"Tonight, I just went out there had fun and relaxed and kind of
let things come to me," Houston said. "And then you get to the
point where you just get in a zone."
He entered the shooter's hallowed domain in the third quarter.
Houston scored 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting in the period and the Knicks went a combined 15-for-19 in the quarter as they opened a 32-point lead.
Houston was playing with so much confidence it looked as if he thought he wouldn't miss another shot.
"I didn't," he said. "It got to the point where all I wanted to do was make some room so I could get a shot off and run back (on defense)," he said.
Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy had spent extra time talking with
Houston the past few days, hoping his swingman might break out of
his slump.
"You know I've never believed in that word," Houston said.
"Mentally, I thought it (slump) was over before the game."
Lamond Murray had 22 points and Jim Jackson 16 for the
Cavaliers, who suffered their biggest loss this season and didn't do anything to help Wittman's chances of keeping his job.
"To sit and continue to take something like this, I can't do
it," Wittman said.
Marcus Camby had 15 points and 12 rebounds and Mark Jackson had
10 assists for the Knicks, who were missing Glen Rice, out resting
a sore left foot.
Houston more than made up for Rice's absence. He opened the
third quarter by scoring seven of New York's first nine points, the
final two coming on a thunderous slam dunk over Cavs rookie center Chris Mihm as the Knicks opened a 19-point advantage.
"Mugsy (Bogues) was saying, 'I didn't know he could dunk',"
Houston said. "Sometimes a dunk like that can help your outside
shot."
After making two free throws, Houston then got loose from Cavs
guard Trajan Langdon for a few long jumpers, including the first of
his four 3-pointers of the second half.
New York's lead swelled to 43 points in the fourth period and
even seldom-used Knicks rookie Lavor Postell got off late in the game with a monster two-handed slam.
"It's nice to see guys who work hard get a chance to get in and
show off what they can do," Latrell Sprewell said.
Led by Jackson's 10 second-quarter points, the Cavs battled back
from down 13 points to close within 32-29 on Jackson's 15-foot
jumper from the corner. But Sprewell and Jackson scored four points
apiece as New York closed the first half with an 11-2 spurt to lead
43-31 at the break.
Game notes
Houston's 39 points were three times more than scored by
Cleveland's starters. ... The Knicks are hoping some rest will
benefit Rice, who has been bothered by soreness in his left foot
since January. Rice has twice been to Canada to receive shock-wave
treatment on his foot. ... The Cavs scored just nine points in the
first quarter on 3-of-16 shooting. ... Knicks F Larry Johnson
missed his seventh straight game with a sore back. ... New York F Kurt Thomas left after rolling his left ankle in the first half but
returned after intermission.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
Cleveland Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 110
Cleveland 75
New Jersey 104
Vancouver 90
Toronto 102
Indiana 81
Orlando 103
Chicago 95
Portland 96
Dallas 88
Phoenix 105
Washington 91
Utah 84
Detroit 79
LA Clippers 88
Philadelphia 77
Sacramento 125
Houston 109
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