Knicks Lose Ewing, Then Game To Nets

Even with Patrick Ewing, the New York Knicks were no match for the New Jersey Nets 12 days ago.

When the center left with an arm injury in the third quarter Friday night, it was the same story.

Jim Jackson scored 20 of his season-high 29 points after Ewing left with an injury and the Nets rallied from an 11-point deficit to beat the Knicks 92-86.

It was the Nets’ second victory over the Knicks in 12 days, and New York’s third loss in four games dealt another blow to its chances of catching Miami in the Atlantic Division and getting the second seed in the Eastern Conference.

“It’s disappointing we lost,” said Ewing, who is being listed as day to day. “We had a big lead and let it slip away.”

Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said the injury was a torn muscle.

“We have enough to win on this team without him,” Van Gundy said. “At times, we play well without him. Tonight, we struggled. They just played better than we did in the second half.”

New York was in control until early in the third quarter when Ewing pulled the tricep muscle in his left arm after apparently catching it in the shirt of Nets center Eric Montross with 10:58 left and New York ahead 54-45. Ewing finished with 18 points.

“It’s a pull, maybe a tear, who knows?” Ewing said. “I don’t even know how it happened. It was on the defensive end. I hope not to miss Sunday’s game (at Orlando). Right now when I try to move it, it’s sore. I have trouble raising my arm.”

The Knicks managed to stay in front for another 6 minutes, boosting the margin to 63-52 on a layup by Chris Childs with 5:18 left.

After that it was all New Jersey and Jackson, who scored 28 points against Philadelphia on Wednesday.

Jackson scored 11 the rest of the quarter to spark a 20-4 spurt that put the Nets ahead 72-67 after three quarters.

Rex Chapman scored seven of his 18 points in overtime and the Phoenix Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 122-115 to move into seventh place in the Western Conference.

Reggie Miller fueled a fourth-quarter rally before Fred Hoiberg finished it on a 3-pointer with 1.6 seconds left, giving the Indiana Pacers a 116-115 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

Miller, held to less than 20 points in three of the last four games, attempted 10 3-pointers and tied his club record by making eight of them. He finished with 39 points - one short of his season high - to help the Pacers come back from a 10-point deficit in the final 9:44.

Tisdale’s father dies

The Rev. Louis Tisdale, father of Wayman Tisdale of the Phoenix Suns, died of a heart attack Friday. He was 74. Tisdale, who for 21 years was pastor of Friendship Baptist Church, suffered a heart attack in Sayre, Okla., while he and his wife and their grandchildren returned from a visit with his son in Phoenix.

Woman appeals Rodman suit dismissal

A woman has appealed the dismissal of her lawsuit against Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman for allegedly pinching her on the buttocks.

In Salt Lake City, U.S. District Court Judge David Sam ruled Feb. 28 that the claim of battery brought by Lavon P. Ankers was filed too late and was barred by the statute of limitations.

Sam also rejected Ankers’ claim of intentional infliction of emotional distress, ruling the alleged pinch may have been insulting, but it wasn’t “outrageous.”

Trades update

One of the newest members of the Nets, Sam Cassell, is also one of the few players around the NBA who has thrived since being involved in the flurry of deals that preceded the Feb. 20 trading deadline.

Cassell, who averaged 13.7 points and 4.1 assists for Phoenix and Dallas, has upped his numbers to 20.9 points and 6.7 assists since being traded to the Nets.

Shawn Bradley, the centerpiece of the nine-player blockbuster, also has improved. After averaging 12.0 points and 8.1 rebounds for the Nets, he is putting up 14.2 points and 8.4 rebounds for Dallas.

Jamal Mashburn, whose minutes have increased by 38 percent since he was dealt from Dallas to Miami, has increased his averages for points, rebounds, assists and steals, while also improving his overall field-goal, 3-point and free-throw percentages.

Eddie Johnson, released by Denver after being traded from Indiana, has since signed with Houston and has made major contributions.

But aside from those cases, few of the 25 players who were involved in deadline deals have improved in the past 5-1/2 weeks.