NBA ROUNDUP : Knicks Remain Cold in Boston Garden

For three quarters, the New York Knicks seemed ready to end their eight-year regular-season losing streak in Boston. Their nine-minute cold spell in the fourth quarter kept it alive.

The Celtics overcame a 15-point deficit and overtook their Atlantic Division rival, 99-95, Wednesday night. Boston (21-12) moved within percentage points of division leading New York (20-11).

The Knicks led, 58-49, at halftime and 82-74 after three quarters but made only one of their first 13 shots in the fourth period as they fell behind, 91-86, with 2:56 remaining.

“We tried to fight them off, but they kept on coming,” said New York’s Charles Oakley, who was scoreless in 26 minutes. “The game lasts four quarters, not 36 minutes.”

With Larry Bird and Kevin McHale sidelined, Reggie Lewis led Boston with 33 points. But it was defense that started the Knicks toward their 23rd consecutive regular-season road loss to the Celtics.

Defense “has to be a trademark if we’re going to win,” Boston’s Rick Fox said. “It creates easy layups and jump shots and really gets the crowd going.”

It caused headaches for Patrick Ewing, who led the Knicks with 28 points but had no field goals in the final 16 minutes.

Since losing to New York at home on Feb. 29, 1984, the Celtics, during the regular season, have beaten the Knicks 22 consecutive times at Boston Garden and once in Hartford, Conn.

Philadelphia 114, Houston 104--Jeff Ruland’s return to the NBA after a five-year retirement gave the Philadelphia a lift.

Hersey Hawkins scored 24 points, Johnny Dawkins scored 17 and Charles Barkley scored 15 as the 76ers rallied from a six-point halftime deficit, took their first lead at 63-61 and never trailed again.

Hakeem Olajuwon scored 28 points and Otis Thorpe 26 for the Rockets, who lost for the seventh time in nine games.

The 6-foot-11 Ruland, traded by Washington for Moses Malone and two first-round draft picks in 1986, retired after playing only five games for the 76ers. He walked with pain until doctors replaced the missing cartilage in his left knee with scar tissue last summer.

Ruland played in spurts of four or five minutes in each quarter, scoring nine points. When he made his first appearance, he gave the 76ers a lift with seven points on three baskets and a free throw.

Chicago 108, Miami 106--Michael Jordan scored 40 points and escaped injury on a frightening out-of-bounds tumble at Miami as the Bulls improved to 11-0 against the expansion franchise.

Chasing a loose ball with four minutes left, Jordan went flying over a row of cheerleaders seated under the Bulls’ basket. He landed awkwardly and lay still for about a minute.

Jordan avoided putting any weight on his right leg as he was helped off the court, but to the delight of the crowd, he returned to the game before play resumed.

The NBA’s leading scorer hit 17 of 27 shots and reached 40 points for the sixth time this season.

Scottie Pippen scored 24 points for Chicago. Rice had 33 points for Miami.

Milwaukee 99, Utah 98--Moses Malone scored 22 points and Alvin Robertson and Jay Humphries made two free throws apiece in the final 10 seconds at Milwaukee as the Bucks won their fourth in a row.

The Jazz, who had a five-game winning streak snapped, trailed by 11 with five minutes left, but caught up with a 15-4 run behind Karl Malone, who finished with 28 points.

Milwaukee broke a 93-93 tie and kept the lead when Dale Ellis scored with 28 seconds to go.

Detroit 114, Sacramento 95--Orlando Woolridge scored 23 points on nine-for-11 shooting and Dennis Rodman had 23 rebounds, leading the Detroit Pistons at Auburn Hills, Mich.

The Pistons led by 11 points early in the final period, then pulled away down the stretch to win for the eighth time in 10 games.

Rodman, the NBA’s rebounding leader, scored only nine points, but he now has 20 or more rebounds in 11 of 16 games since Dec. 5.

Phoenix 135, Denver 114--Tom Chambers and Kevin Johnson scored 14 points each in the first quarter at Phoenix.

Jeff Hornacek finished with 24 points, including eight as the Suns outscored the Nuggets 15-8 to open the fourth quarter. That gave Phoenix a 114-90 lead with 7:50 remaining, and reserves played the rest of the way.

Dikembe Mutombo scored 24 points for Denver, which lost for the 12th time in 14 road games.

New Jersey 103, Minnesota 97--Drazen Petrovic and Sam Bowie scored 24 points each and the New Jersey Nets held off a late Minnesota rally at East Rutherford, N.J., to hand the Timberwolves their 17th loss in 19 games.

The Nets won for the sixth time in their last eight decisions.