RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The Los Angeles Clippers' co-captains, one an
NBA journeyman and the other a youngster just beginning his career,
fulfilled their roles as leaders Wednesday night.
Sean Rooks and Lamar Odom were steady throughout the game and came up with a big baskets down the stretch to lead the Clippers to
a 78-74 victory over the New York Knicks.
"He (Rooks) was a big difference in the game," the Clippers'
Eric Piatkowski said. "He's smart, he knows when to pass the ball
and the right people to pass it to, and he knocks down shots."
The 31-year-old backup center played 28 minutes, eight more than
starter Michael Olowokandi.
The 20-year-old Odom, meanwhile, seemed to take control of the
game in the closing minutes.
"Our leader stepped up tonight," teammate Jeff McInnis said.
"Lamar Odom showed he is the leader. He made some huge baskets."
Odom had 16 points and Rooks 14 in Los Angeles' well-balanced
scoring as the Clippers beat the Knicks for just the fourth time in
their last 28 meetings.
Tyrone Nesby's 12-foot jumper gave the Clippers a 72-70 lead with 1:50 remaining, then Rooks scored on a layup and Odom on a
10-foot jumper to put Los Angeles up 76-72 lead with 43 seconds remaining.
Allan Houston's two free throws with 11 seconds left pulled the
Knicks to 76-74, but McInnis scored on a fastbreak off an inbounds
pass for the final margin.
"We're not playing well right now," Knicks coach Jeff Van
Gundy said. "The last few games have not been good enough. They
(the Clippers) have played well so far and lost a couple of tough
games."
Larry Johnson led New York with 20 points and Houston had 17.
The Knicks' Latrell Sprewell scored 10 points in the first half
-- two on a basket while he was sitting on the court -- but had just
two points in the second half.
Sprewell, on the floor just in front of the free throw line,
ended the first quarter with his weird shot that gave New York a
23-13 lead. Sprewell dived after a loose ball, grabbed it and found
himself sitting facing the basket, He awkwardly pushed up a shot
that bounced off the rim and dropped in.
Asked if he had done that before, Sprewell said, "Never. Nope. I got a good look at the clock. There was one second and I just tossed it up and it trickled in."
The Clippers, who hadn't led since they scored the first basket
of the game, trailed 58-56 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Piatkowski's 3-pointer with 10:23 remaining put the Clippers up
61-58. The lead seesawed until Los Angeles finally moved in front
in the final two minutes.
The Knicks led 42-35 at halftime. New York got off to a quick
start and went on to lead by 10 at the end of the first quarter.
Game notes
One of the Clippers' most impressive wins last season -- when they won only 15 times -- was a 100-95 victory over the Knicks
in Los Angeles on Nov. 23. The Knicks beat them 87-76 in New York
in the only other meeting last season. ... Los Angeles' Earl Boykins, on the injured list with a bruised right knee, became a father on Tuesday when his girlfriend, Keyan Mathews, gave birth to Earl Antoine Boykins Jr. The Clippers' player was in Cleveland for
the birth of his son and is expected to return to Los Angeles on Friday.
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NBA Scoreboard
New York Clubhouse
LA Clippers Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 116
Washington 109
Philadelphia 107
Cleveland 98
Indiana 92
Detroit 88
Milwaukee 84
Atlanta 74
Minnesota 92
Golden State 90
New Jersey 93
Miami 91
Phoenix 99
Dallas 78
LA Clippers 78
New York 74
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Latrell Sprewell wipes the floor with the Clippers.
avi: 893 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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