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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
NEW YORK (AP) -- Patrick Ewing showed his critics that his career in New York is not quite done yet.
|  | | Brian Grant denies a dunk attempt by New York's Marcus Camby. |
Ewing, the subject of criticism and trade rumors this week,
energized the Knicks by matching his season-high with 20 points as
New York cooled off the streaking Portland Trail Blazers 98-88
Thursday night.
"He's a warrior," teammate Larry Johnson said. "Patrick's
been around a long time. It was just a matter of time until he
heated up. His shot was falling and he got into a good groove
tonight."
Ewing, 37, has battled injuries the past three years and missed
the first 20 games this season with tendinitis in his Achilles. He
missed New York's trip to the NBA Finals last year and came back to
find his role diminished as Allan Houston and Latrell Sprewell took
over.
Ewing's ego hasn't diminished, however, and his relationship
with coach Jeff Van Gundy has deteriorated this season as his
minutes have decreased.
"I'm not going to complain about minutes," Ewing said. "When
my number is called, I do the best I can. I knew I'd be a
significant contributor. I don't need other people to motivate me.
I motivate myself."
This hasn't been the best week for Ewing. Benched for the final
17 minutes in Tuesday night's loss to Orlando, he woke up Wednesday
to a story in the newspaper that said the Knicks discussed a trade
with the Wizards that would have sent him to Washington.
"Whatever happens, happens," Ewing said of his future in New
York. "Greater players than me have been traded. It's a
business."
If he plays like he did Thursday, the Knicks surely won't trade
him. He helped New York take control in the third quarter with
seven points, four rebounds and two blocks.
After Bonzi Wells nearly brought Portland back in the fourth quarter, Ewing re-entered the game and helped end the Blazers'
six-game winning streak.
Ewing hit a high-arcing jumper over Rasheed Wallace to give New York an 85-77 lead with 4:55 to play. After Wells scored, Ewing hit
a baseline jumper and set up Marcus Camby underneath. Camby was
fouled by Wallace and hit two free throws.
"He went on a very good sequence that I thought really spurred
us on," Van Gundy said. "He made a couple of spot up shots that
have been his signature on penetration for a long time."
Ewing then hit a spin move in the lane to make it 91-79, the
Knicks' biggest lead of the game.
"He looked like the Patrick of old," Portland's Steve Smith
said. "Give him credit, he still has it."
Houston led New York with 22 points, Sprewell had 14, Camby 13
and Charlie Ward 12. Ewing added nine rebounds and three blocks in
36 minutes.
Wells scored all 18 of his points in the fourth quarter,
including Portland's first 15 of the period. Steve Smith had 18,
Damon Stoudamire 16 and Scottie Pippen scored 11 in his first game
against the Knicks since leaving Chicago last year.
Wallace got ejected with 1:08 left and threw his wristband at
referee Joey Crawford. It was Wallace's fourth ejection of the
season.
The Knicks broke open a tight game in the third quarter,
frustrating the Blazers with their aggressiveness, drawing fouls
and grabbing offensive rebounds. New York used an 8-0 run to break
a 56-56 tie and led 73-64 after three.
"Against a really good team, we can't afford to play like
that," said Portland coach Mike Dunleavy, whose team beat San
Antonio twice, Utah and the Lakers during its winning streak.
The Knicks, coming off their worst home loss of the year, came
out firing, hitting five 3-pointers in a high-scoring first
quarter. Portland led 29-28 before two of the stingiest defensive
teams tightened up in the second quarter.
New York, playing without backup point guard Chris Childs, went
to the big backcourt of Sprewell and Houston and scored one basket
in 11 possessions. But Portland also struggled from the field,
hitting 6 of 22 shots in the quarter and the Trail Blazers led
46-45 at halftime.
Game notes
Frank Layden, the father New York GM Scott Layden, was
hired Thursday as a consultant for the Knicks. ... All of the
Blazers except for Stoudamire and Arvydas Sabonis wore headbands.
... Portland is 21-8 against teams playing .500 or better. ... Ward
had one turnover in 35 minutes and has coughed it up only 10 times
in 339 minutes in his last 11 games. ... New York, which shot 91
percent from the foul line the last four games, hit only 24-of-35.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Portland Clubhouse
New York Clubhouse
RECAPS
New York 98
Portland 88
Dallas 106
Charlotte 96
Houston 109
Philadelphia 106
San Antonio 112
Toronto 95
Milwaukee 102
Utah 99
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