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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME FLOW
NEW YORK (AP) – Night in, night out, it's never clear which
version of the New York Knicks is going to show up.
|  | | Marcus Camby is playing well lately, his latest outburst a 23-point, 20-rebound effort against Orlando. |
After a somewhat lethargic three quarters against Orlando on
Tuesday night, a lineup overhaul triggered a top-notch fourth
period as the Knicks beat the Magic 94-82.
Marcus Camby had 23 points and 20 rebounds -- the first Knicks
player in four years to post a 20-20 game -- and Latrell Sprewell
added 14 points, six assists and five rebounds as New York won for
the ninth time in its last 10 home games.
It helped, of course, that Magic star Tracy McGrady left in the
second quarter after straining a right leg muscle.
Camby and Sprewell were the only two Knicks starters to play in
the fourth quarter, along with reserves Kurt Thomas, Glen Rice and
Charlie Ward. Thomas finished with 15 points; the other two each
contributed 11.
Starters Allan Houston, Mark Jackson and Larry Johnson sat out
the last 12 minutes.
"I am done talking to the starting group about their
responsibilities. They have to get loose, get into a sweat, and
they have to play well, and if they don't they are coming out,"
Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "That's just how it is. It's too
late in the year to beg them."
The Knicks were returning home from a 2-3 road trip on which
they lost by big margins to the Grizzlies and Trail Blazers and
needed overtime to get past the Warriors. But they also beat the
defending champion Lakers.
"We've been up-and-down," said Sprewell, who hit three
straight baskets early in the fourth quarter to spark New York.
"I'm sure it's frustrating for Jeff, and as a player it is, too,
because you don't know how we're going to come out as a team and
perform."
Mike Miller, who at this time last year was leading Florida to
the NCAA championship game, led Orlando with 27 points. Bo Outlaw
and Darrell Armstrong had 10 apiece for the Magic, which lost their
fourth straight on the road.
Miller took over the game briefly in the third quarter, scoring
10 points on outside jumpers as the Magic used a 15-4 run to take a
66-58 led with 5 1/2 minutes left in the period.
The Knicks, meanwhile, were up to their usual third-quarter
problems on offense, making six of 20 shots. New York has been
outscored by an average of 24-17 in the third quarters of its last
six outings.
But New York played its second straight marvelous fourth quarter
defensively. They held Orlando to 14 points in the final period -- on 31 percent shooting -- two days after limiting the Lakers to 13
points.
On offense, Sprewell got things started in the fourth and Camby
finished, getting six points as the hosts closed with a 16-8 spurt.
"We took it upon ourselves to bring that energy and hopefully
others would follow suit," Camby said. "And the guys did."
Houston played 22 minutes and scored all his points in the first
half, which ended 49-49. He only played eight minutes after the
break, though, and said his right thigh stiffened up.
McGrady, a first-time All-Star this season and NBA player of the
month in February, didn't return after getting hurt chasing Camby
on a Knicks fast break.
"With Tracy out, we knew the only way we could win the game was
to make it helter-skelter, up-tempo," Magic coach Doc Rivers said.
"I told them to play free, and we crossed that line and started
playing carefree."
Game notes
The Knicks won the season series 3-1. ... The last New York
player with a 20-20 was Patrick Ewing, who had 34 points and 25
rebounds on Feb. 23, 1997, in a double-overtime game at the Lakers.
... McGrady's scoring average of 27.1 points heading into the game
is the highest ever for a player younger than 22. Bernard King
averaged 24.2 for New Jersey in the 1977-78 season. ... McGrady
averaged 31 points in the first three Magic-Knicks games this
season. ... Van Gundy thinks McGrady should get more consideration
for league MVP. "He does it in all ways. He scores, he rebounds,
he's got the length to defend multiple positions," Van Gundy said.
... Miller was NBA rookie of the month for February and tied with
New Jersey's Kenyon Martin for the March award.
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ALSO SEE
NBA Scoreboard
Orlando Clubhouse
New York Clubhouse
RECAPS
Boston 82
Miami 77
Charlotte 103
New Jersey 88
New York 94
Orlando 82
Indiana 85
Phoenix 81
Toronto 100
Philadelphia 85
LA Lakers 96
Utah 88
Detroit 110
Chicago 83
Dallas 109
Houston 97
San Antonio 107
Seattle 89
Denver 94
Portland 92
Milwaukee 107
Sacramento 101
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