Stumbling Knicks Fire Don Nelson
NBA
The Knicks fired head coach Don Nelson Friday with just 23 games left in a lackluster season and the team dribbling itself out of playoff contention.
Jeff Van Gundy, a Knicks assistant coach for seven years, was tapped to lead the team the rest of the season.
Just 34, Van Gundy became the youngest head coach in the NBA.
Since the All-Star break Feb. 11, the team has gone 4-9, with the only fireworks for the fans being a public, all-out feud between Nelson and guard John Starks.
Nelson, fired last year by the Golden State Warriors, is the sixth-winningest coach in NBA history. He is 851-629 in the regular season. He also coached the Milwaukee Bucks for 11 seasons.
Jordan closes foundation
The Michael Jordan Foundation is closing at the end of the month because Jordan believes administrative costs have been taking money away from charities he hoped to help.
Heat headed for Broward
Following the lead of the Florida Panthers, the Miami Heat announced its plan to move out of Miami and into a new arena in Broward County by 1998.
Jazz 109, Rockets 89
Salt Lake City
John Stockton made his first nine shots of the game and finished 11 of 12 from the field with 25 points to lead the Jazz over the Rockets. Stockton also had 15 assists.
Houston (89) - Horry 3-9 2-2 10, Brown 1-3 0-0 2, Olajuwon 8-19 4-8 20, Mack 3-6 0-0 8, Recasner 1-4 0-0 2, Smith 4-7 2-3 13, Bryant 4-11 4-4 12, Jackson 0-3 7-8 7, Jones 0-0 1-2 1, Chilcutt 2-3 1-1 6, Booker 1-4 0-0 2, Breaux 2-5 2-5 6. Totals 29-74 23-33 89.
Utah (109) - Benoit 3-7 0-0 6, Malone 6-15 5-6 17, Spencer 0-1 1-2 1, Hornacek 5-10 2-2 14, Stockton 11-12 3-3 25, Eisley 1-2 0-0 2, Ostertag 2-4 0-0 4, Keefe 2-5 0-0 4, Carr 7-8 0-0 14, Morris 6-13 0-0 13, Foster 1-8 4-4 6, Russell 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 45-87 15-17 109.
Houston 27 23 18 21 - 89
Utah 28 29 25 27 - 109
3-Point goals-Houston 8-24 (Smith 3-5, Mack 2-4, Horry 2-6, Chilcutt 1-2, Booker 0-1, Recasner 0-2, Breaux 0-2, Jackson 0-2), Utah 4-15 (Hornacek 2-5, Russell 1-2, Morris 1-3, Stockton 0-1, Foster 0-1, Benoit 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Houston 52 (Olajuwon 8), Utah 47 (Foster 7). Assists-Houston 21 (Horry 8), Utah 29 (Stockton 15). Total fouls-Houston 22, Utah 26. Technical-Morris. A-19,911 (19,911).
76ers 100, Knicks 92
Philadelphia
Philadelphia stunned New York to spoil the head coaching debut of Jeff Van Gundy for New York.
New York (92) - Williams 2-4 0-0 4, Mason 10-13 0-0 20, Ewing 11-20 2-5 24, Davis 6-15 2-2 17, Harper 5-14 3-3 13, Reid 4-6 0-0 8, Ward 0-3 0-0 0, Anderson 1-2 0-0 3, Lohaus 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 40-79 7-10 92.
Philadelphia (100) - Alston 3-8 1-2 7, Weatherspoon 3-10 4-6 10, Pinckney 5-9 4-4 14, Stackhouse 9-15 7-8 29, Maxwell 7-19 2-2 21, Thompson 0-0 0-0 0, Massenburg 2-5 1-2 5, Ruffin 4-9 3-3 13, Dumas 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 33-75 23-29 100.
New York 28 29 14 21 - 92
Philadelphia 29 22 25 24 - 100
3-Point goals-New York 5-12 (Davis 3-8, Anderson 1-1, Lohaus 1-2, Harper 0-1), Philadelphia 11-22 (Maxwell 5-12, Stackhouse 4-5, Ruffin 2-5). Fouled out-None. Rebounds- New York 44 (Mason 11), Philadelphia 46 (Weatherspoon 12). Assists-New York 26 (Harper 6), Philadelphia 19 (Maxwell, Ruffin 6). Total fouls-New York 25, Philadelphia 14. Technicals-New York illegal defense 2, Harper, Mason, Philadelphia illegal defense 2, Stackhouse. A-15,310 (18,168).
Magic 117, Hornets 112 (OT)
Orlando, Fla.
Shaquille O’Neal scored four of his 36 points in the extra period as Orlando won its 38th straight regular-season game at Orlando Arena.
Charlotte (112) - Johnson 12-20 6-7 35, Geiger 10-15 2-2 22, Parish 1-2 0-0 2, Rice 11-22 0-0 26, Goldwire 2-7 2-2 6, Zidek 0-0 0-0 0, Curry 4-9 0-0 10, Addison 0-2 0-0 0, Myers 0-2 0-0 0, Adams 3-7 3-4 11, Hancock 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 43-86 13-15 112.
Orlando (117) - Scott 6-10 2-2 18, Grant 6-12 4-5 16, O’Neal 16-21 4-12 36, N.Anderson 5-9 0-0 14, Hardaway 11-19 5-8 31, Koncak 0-1 0-0 0, Shaw 1-5 0-0 2, Bowie 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 45-77 15-27 117.
Charlotte 24 26 34 19 9 - 112
Orlando 27 26 29 21 14 - 117
3-Point goals-Charlotte 13-31 (Johnson 5-9, Rice 4-10, Curry 2-4, Adams 2-5, Goldwire 0-3), Orlando 12-16 (Hardaway 4-4, N.Anderson 4-5, Scott 4-6, Grant 0-1). Fouled out-Geiger. Rebounds-Charlotte 43 (Parish 10), Orlando 46 (Grant 12). Assists-Charlotte 27 (Johnson 9), Orlando 28 (Hardaway 8). Total fouls-Charlotte 28, Orlando 17. A-17,248 (17,248).
Lakers 119, Suns 97
Phoenix
Nick Van Exel scored 28 points, 23 coming in a lopsided first half, and Cedric Ceballos had 23 as Los Angeles won another road game.
L.a. Lakers (119) - Ceballos 11-18 0-0 23, Campbell 4-7 2-3 10, Divac 3-7 0-0 6, Jones 7-15 0-1 18, Van Exel 10-16 5-6 28, Strong 0-0 0-0 0, E.Johnson 4-7 4-4 12, Peeler 5-10 1-2 14, Threatt 1-3 0-0 2, Blount 0-0 2-2 2, Lynch 1-1 0-0 2, Miller 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 47-85 14-18 119.
Phoenix (97) - Bennett 4-10 3-4 11, Barkley 6-10 1-2 13, Williams 3-6 2-2 8, Finley 5-14 2-2 12, K.Johnson 6-10 6-6 18, Person 1-4 3-4 5, Perry 3-8 0-0 8, Manning 7-16 1-4 15, Green 1-3 0-0 2, Carr 1-4 1-2 3, Coker 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 38-87 19-26 97.
L.A. Lakers 38 28 21 32 - 119
Phoenix 21 25 24 27 - 97
3-Point goals-Los Angeles 11-27 (Jones 4-7, Peeler 3-5, Van Exel 3-8, Ceballos 1-4, Threatt 0-1, E.Johnson 0-2), Phoenix 2-5 (Perry 2-3, Person 0-1, Green 0-1). Fouled out- None. Rebounds-Los Angeles 51 (Divac 14), Phoenix 47 (Barkley 13). Assists-Los Angeles 37 (Van Exel 13), Phoenix 22 (K.Johnson, Perry 5). Total fouls-Los Angeles 21, Phoenix 15. Technicals-Campbell, Van Exel, Barkley, Williams, Manning, Los Angeles illegal defense. A-19,023 (19,023).
Hawks 94, Bucks 91
Atlanta
Christian Laettner scored 17 points and put Atlanta ahead for good on a driving shot in the lane with 1:10 remaining.
Milwaukee (91) - Robinson 6-15 1-1 13, Baker 13-18 6-11 34, Cummings 2-5 0-0 4, Newman 3-7 0-0 7, Douglas 3-9 1-2 10, Conlon 0-1 0-0 0, Mayberry 2-4 0-0 6, Benjamin 3-4 2-4 8, Respert 2-5 2-2 7, Keys 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 35-69 12-20 91.
Atlanta (94) - Ehlo 8-16 1-2 19, Long 16-14 0-2 12, Laettner 7-15 3-3 17, Smith 2-12 0-0 4, Blaylock 5-15 1-2 14, Bullard 5-12 2-2 14, Henderson 3-6 0-0 6, Rooks 1-2 3-6 5, Jordan 1-2 1-2 3. Totals 38-94 11-19 94.
Milwaukee 26 26 23 16 - 91
Atlanta 29 34 15 16 - 94
3-Point goals-Milwaukee 9-20 (Douglas 3-5, Baker 2-3, Mayberry 2-4, Respert 1-3, Conlon 0-1, Robinson 0-2), Atlanta 7-25 (Blaylock 3-10, Bullard 2-5, Ehlo 2-6, Laettner 0-1, Smith 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Milwaukee 51 (Baker 10), Atlanta 57 (Long, Laettner 13). Assists- Milwaukee 12 (Baker 3), Atlanta 17 (Blaylock 7). Total fouls-Milwaukee 19, Atlanta 15. A-10,174 (16,378).
Heat 109, Raptors 79
Miami
Miami scored 17 of the game’s first 19 points and led by as many as 40 in a victory over Toronto.
Toronto (79) - Murray 4-12 0-0 8, Miller 2-4 1-2 5, Wright 3-13 0-1 6, Robertson 1-2 1-2 3, Stoudamire 4-10 1-1 11, Tabak 2-5 0-0 4, Christie 1-5 0-0 3, J.King 3-7 4-4 10, Rogers 3-10 1-2 7, Esposito 5-12 1-2 12, Lewis 2-3 2-3 6, Earl 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 31-84 13-19 79.
Miami (109) - Williams 8-13 3-4 21, Thomas 5-7 2-3 12, Mourning 7-8 1-5 15, Chapman 2-8 3-3 8, Hardaway 6-13 8-8 23, Askins 0-4 0-0 0, Gatling 6-12 6-9 18, Corbin 4-7 1-2 9, Smith 1-4 0-0 2, S.King 0-2 1-2 1, Lenard 0-4 0-0 0. Totals 39-82 25-36 109.
Toronto 17 16 20 26 - 79
Miami 35 24 30 20 - 109
3-Point goals-Toronto 4-15 (Stoudamire 2-5, Christie 1-2, Esposito 1-4, Murray 0-2, Rogers 0-2), Miami 6-22 (Hardaway 3-7, Williams 2-3, Chapman 1-5, Smith 0-1, Askins 0-3, Corbin 0-3). Fouled out-S.King. Rebounds- Toronto 47 (Miller 10), Miami 66 (Gatling 11). Assists- Toronto 15 (Stoudamire 5), Miami 28 (Chapman 8). Total fouls-Toronto 26, Miami 25. Technicals-Stoudamire, Rogers, Chapman, S.King. A-14,319 (15,200).
Clippers 92, Bullets 89
Landover, Md.
Rodney Rogers scored 20 points, including the decisive basket as Los Angeles beat Washington.
L.A. Clippers (92) - Rogers 7-13 4-5 20, Vaught 8-12 6-8 22, Williams 5-14 2-2 12, Barry 1-1 0-0 2, Richardson 7-15 0-0 15, Dehere 2-7 2-2 8, Sealy 2-2 0-0 4, Roberts 2-7 5-8 9, Murray 0-2 0-0 0, Harvey 0-0 0-0 0, Outlaw 0-0 0-2 0. Totals 34-73 19-27 92.
Washington (89) - Howard 8-19 4-7 20, Wallace 5-11 1-2 12, Muresan 4-8 5-7 13, Cheaney 7-14 4-4 20, B.Price 4-9 3-4 15, McIlvaine 1-2 2-3 4, Butler 0-2 0-0 0, Eackles 0-2 2-2 2, Legler 1-5 0-0 3. Totals 30-72 21-29 89.
L.A. Clippers 29 23 16 24 - 92
Washington 23 24 20 22 - 89
3-Point goals-Los Angeles 5-11 (Rogers 2-4, Dehere 2-4, Richardson 1-3), Washington 8-20 (B.Price 4-6, Cheaney 2-6, Legler 1-3, Wallace 1-4, Butler 0-1). Fouled out- Roberts, Wallace, Muresan. Rebounds-Los Angeles 47 (Vaught 14), Washington 50 (Cheaney 9). Assists-Los Angeles 20 (Richardson 8), Washington 17 (Howard, B.Price 5). Total fouls-Los Angeles 24, Washington 25. Technicals-Williams, Roberts, Los Angeles illegal defense 2. A-12,120 (18,756).
Cavaliers 96, Celtics 91
Boston
Chris Mills scored 22 points and Cleveland withstood a fourth-quarter rally to beat Boston.
Cleveland (96) - Mills 7-10 7-8 22, Ferry 6-10 2-2 16, Cage 2-5 1-2 5, Sura 4-11 3-4 12, Majerle 7-15 1-2 17, Crotty 2-2 0-0 4, Hill 4-8 4-4 12, Marshall 3-6 2-4 8, Lang 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 35-69 20-26 96.
Boston (91) - Ellison 3-4 1-2 7, Fox 5-12 2-2 14, Montross 2-3 0-0 4, Wesley 7-13 5-6 21, Minor 4-11 0-2 8, Barros 6-14 1-1 17, Williams 3-5 5-5 11, Lister 0-0 2-2 2, Day 3-10 0-0 7. Totals 33-72 16-20 91.
Cleveland 26 25 26 19 - 96
Boston 19 24 18 30 - 91
3-Point goals-Cleveland 6-14 (Ferry 2-3, Majerle 2-6, Mills 1-2, Sura 1-2, Marshall 0-1). Boston 9-21 (Barros 4-8, Fox 2-5, Wesley 2-2, Day 1-5, Minor 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Cleveland 44 (Sura 8), Boston 39 (Fox 7). Assists-Cleveland 22 (Sura, Majerle 5), Boston 23 (Wesley 8). Total fouls-Cleveland 20, Boston 23. A-18,308 (18,624).
Trail Blazers 117, Kings 105
Portland
Buck Williams celebrated his 36th birthday with a season-high 21 points and 11 rebounds as Portland added to Sacramento’s woes with a victory.
Rod Strickland returned from his self-imposed exile with 19 points and 12 assists for Portland.
Sacramento (105) - Owens 1-2 0-0 2, B.Grant 1-7 5-6 7, Polynice 7-10 0-0 14, Richmond 10-27 4-4 30, Hurley 1-2 1-1 3, Smith 0-3 0-4 0, Gamble 7-12 0-0 17, Edney 1-5 3-4 5, Williamson 10-17 6-9 26, Simmons 0-0 0-0 0, Causwell 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 38-85 20-30 105.
Portland (117) - C.Robinson 3-11 5-10 12, Trent 6-12 0-0 12, Sabonis 8-19 6-7 23, H.Grant 5-9 2-6 12, R.Robinson 2-5 0-0 5, Williams 9-10 3-3 21, McKie 3-6 2-2 8, Strickland 8-15 3-4 19, Wingfield 1-4 3-3 5. Totals 45-91 24-35 117.
Sacramento 28 34 22 21 - 105
Portland 30 34 28 25 - 117
3-Point goals-Sacramento 9-20 (Richmond 6-11, Gamble 3-5, Hurley 0-1, B.Grant 0-1, Edney 0-2), Portland 3-11 (R.Robinson 1-2, Sabonis 1-2, C.Robinson 1-4, McKie 0-1, Strickland 0-1, Wingfield 0-1). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Sacramento 49 (Polynice 10), Portland 65 (Sabonis 17). Assists-Sacramento 22 (Edney 7), Portland 26 (Strickland 12). Total fouls-Sacramento 29, Portland 21. Technicals-Sacramento illegal defense, Portland illegal defense 2. A-20,485 (21,401).
Pacers 94, Grizzlies 80
Vancouver, British Columbia
Rik Smits scored 24 points, including a rare 3-pointer, to lead Indiana to a victory over Vancouver.
Indiana (94) - McKey 3-7 1-1 7, D.Davis 6-11 1-2 13, Smits 10-13 3-5 24, Miller 6-15 6-6 20, Jackson 2-8 1-2 6, A.Davis 1-5 3-3 5, Caldwell 0-1 0-0 0, Best 0-0 2-2 2, Johnson 6-13 0-0 12, Workman 2-7 1-1 5, Schintzius 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 36-81 18-22 94.
Vancouver (80) - Wilkins 4-9 1-1 9, Amaya 4-8 2-2 10, Reeves 5-9 2-2 12, B.Edwards 5-14 0-0 10, Anthony 1-6 2-3 5, Scott 2-7 0-0 4, King 1-4 2-2 4, Avent 3-8 0-0 6, Murdock 3-6 4-4 11, Manning 2-2 0-1 4, Moten 2-2 1-2 5. Totals 32-75 14-17 80.
Indiana 31 21 19 23 - 94
Vancouver 18 28 14 20 - 80
3-Point goals-Indiana 4-10 (Miller 2-6, Smits 1-1, Jackson 1-3), Vancouver 2-18 (Anthony 1-3, Murdock 1-3, Wilkins 0-3, King 0-3, B.Edwards 0-6). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Indiana 60 (Smits 12), Vancouver 35 (Amaya 7). Assists-Indiana 29 (Jackson 10), Vancouver 22 (B.Edwards, Anthony 5). Total fouls-Indiana 16, Vancouver 23. Flagrant foul-B.Edwards. A-16,451 (19,193).
Spurs 115, Nets 100
San Antonio
David Robinson scored 44 points, one short of his season high, as San Antonio beat New Jersey.
New Jersey (100) - Brown 5-7 1-2 11, Gilliam 7-17 2-2 16, Bradley 11-23 0-0 22, O’Bannon 5-9 2-3 12, Childs 6-15 5-6 18, J.Williams 6-11 0-1 12, Mahorn 1-1 1-2 3, Fleming 2-4 2-2 6, Dare 0-0 0-0 0, Reeves 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 43-87 13-18 100.
San Antonio (115) - Elliott 6-15 2-6 17, Smith 7-15 1-2 15, Robinson 18-24 8-9 44, Del Negro 6-9 5-5 18, Johnson 4-7 0-0 8, Person 3-6 0-0 9, Perdue 1-2 0-0 2, Alexander 0-4 0-0 0, Rivers 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 46-83 16-22 115.
New Jersey 24 22 25 29 - 100
San Antonio 22 24 29 40 - 115
3-Point goals-New Jersey 1-5 (Childs 1-5), San Antonio 7-16 (Person 3-6, Elliott 3-7, Del Negro 1-1, Alexander 0-2). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-New Jersey 44 (Brown 9), San Antonio 48 (Smith 14). Assists-New Jersey 27 (Childs 14), San Antonio 39 (Johnson 15). Total fouls-New Jersey 22, San Antonio 17. Technicals-New Jersey coach Beard, New Jersey delay of game, San Antonio illegal defense 4. A-16,844 (20,662).