Injury-Plagued Knicks Handle Shaq, Lakers

The New York Knicks played one of their most inspired games of the season Sunday, getting 32 points from Allan Houston and overcoming injuries and a height disadvantage to defeat the visiting Los Angeles Lakers 101-89.

John Starks added 16 points and Charlie Ward 15 for New York, which held the Lakers to just one field goal over the final 6-1/2 minutes and kept Los Angeles 17 points below its league-leading average.

It was the eighth victory in 10 games since the All-Star break for New York, which won despite being without Patrick Ewing, Buck Williams, Chris Dudley and Chris Childs. Also, Starks was playing with a hyperextended elbow and Larry Johnson had a sprained thumb.

The lack of personnel and nagging injuries didn’t stop the Knicks from forcing the game to be played in their favored style - a slowdown, defensive battle, and New York kept Shaquille O’Neal from getting involved in any way during the fourth period, holding the 7-foot-1 center to just one point and no rebounds.

The Knicks outscored the Lakers 33-18 over the final 12 minutes and kept Los Angeles from grabbing a single offensive rebound.

Askins, Gatling fined, suspended

Keith Askins of the Miami Heat and Chris Gatling of the New Jersey Nets were fined and suspended Sunday by the NBA for their roles in a brawl during Saturday’s game.

Askins was suspended for two games and fined $10,000 for a flagrant foul on Keith Van Horn of the Nets and for spitting at the Nets bench after he was ejected.

Gatling was suspended for one game and fined $2,500 for leaving the bench area. Sherman Douglas of the Nets was fined $3,500 for tackling Askins.

Askins and Gatling missed Sunday night’s rematch between the Heat and Nets in Miami. Askins also will sit out Miami’s game against Seattle on Tuesday.

Blazers rally falls short

At Boston, one game after absorbing the second-worst loss in NBA history, the Portland Trail Blazers came back from a 25-point deficit only to lose, 102-101 to the Boston Celtics.

After trailing 85-60, the Blazers tied it 101-all on Walt Williams’ 3-pointer with 15 seconds left. The Celtics opted not to call a timeout, and Rasheed Wallace inexplicably reached to foul Antoine Walker.

Walker hit the second of two free throws with 5.4 seconds left. Damon Stoudamire was able to drive into the lane for a short scoop shot at the buzzer, but it hit the back of the rim and bounced out.

On the courts

Voshon Lenard scored 27 points, including two free throws with 0.9 seconds left, to lift the Miami Heat to an 85-84 victory over the visiting New Jersey Nets.

At Houston, Karl Malone scored 21 points and gave Utah the lead for good on a basket with 1:38 left as the Jazz beat the Houston Rockets 106-100.

At Minneapolis, Kevin Garnett’s corner jumper with 1.2 seconds left in the second overtime gave the Minnesota Timberwolves a 115-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

At Cleveland, Shawn Kemp scored 28 points, including 14 in the third quarter, as the Cleveland Cavaliers handed the Golden State Warriors their third straight blowout loss, 102-82.

At Vancouver, British Columbia, Mookie Blaylock scored 20 points, and hit four 3-pointers, as the Atlanta Hawks rolled over the Vancouver Grizzlies 101-76.

At Indianapolis, Rik Smits scored 23 points and Mark Jackson had 12 assists as the Indiana Pacers held Denver to nine points in the third quarter and beat the Nuggets 90-63. It was the 11th straight loss for the NBA’s worst team.