RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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 GAME FLOW
NEW YORK (AP) -- With their "best player" sidelined, the New
York Knicks needed something extra from somebody.
|  | | Larry Johnson picked up the slack mostly on the defensive end for the Knicks, finishing with 16 rebounds. |
Larry Johnson provided it by replacing Marcus Camby's missing
rebounding.
Johnson grabbed 16 boards Sunday night as Camby sat out with a
sprained ankle and the New York Knicks beat the Golden State
Warriors 88-71.
"I thought everybody tried to make a conscious effort since we
knew Marcus wasn't playing," Johnson said. "We tried to do other
things like rebounding and keeping the ball out of the paint since
we did not have a shot blocker."
Johnson's first rebound gave him 5,000 for his career, and he
finished seven shy of his career-high set with Charlotte. He also
scored nine points with three steals and three blocks.
Latrell Sprewell scored 22 points, leading the team in scoring
for the first time this season. Kurt Thomas started at center in
place of Camby and added a season-high 17 points.
"We hear every other day at practice about the 30 (points) and
20 (rebounds) he got in those TCU-Rice games," Johnson said of
Thomas. "Seriously, though, he can play. He's got a lot of skills.
He gets the ball down low and he can do a lot with it."
Glen Rice added 11 for New York, including a pair of 3-pointers
during a 13-0 fourth-quarter run that clinched the Knicks' second
straight victory.
Golden State was without Danny Fortson, who leads the NBA with
an average of 16.3 rebounds per game. Fortson missed the Warriors'
four-game road trip with a sore right foot, staying home to be
examined by a specialist. The Warriors expect to have an updated
prognosis early in the week.
Camby, averaging 12.2 rebounds, turned his ankle in Friday
night's victory at Phoenix.
"He's been, by far, our best player so far. It's not even
close," coach Jeff Van Gundy said before the game. Camby, ranked
third in the NBA in rebounding with a 12.2 average, is day-to-day.
Larry Hughes and Chris Mills had 17 points apiece and Antawn
Jamison added 16 for Golden State, which has the worst record (2-9)
in the Western Conference.
The Knicks took the lead for good in the first quarter and a
3-pointer by Johnson gave them their first 10-point lead, 25-15
with 1:35 left.
The lead reached 18 on a three-point play by Thomas with 9:39
left in the second quarter, but Golden State came back and got
within five points with a 17-4 run.
Sprewell hit a 3-pointer midway through the third to restore a
double-digit lead, and it was 67-58 entering the fourth before the
Knicks locked up the game with their 13-0 run.
"We shot ourselves in the foot as far as taking care of
opportunities," Jamison said. "We put ourselves in the perfect
situation to take over the game, we just didn't have the juice
tonight."
Game notes
Coming off a four-game road trip, the Knicks go back on the
road for a back-to-back set against Orlando and Atlanta on Tuesday
and Wednesday. ... X-rays on Camby' ankle were negative. He
underwent an MRI exam as a further precaution. ... Sprewell also
had five rebounds and five assists. ... Felton Spencer saw
extensive playing time as Thomas' backup and contributed seven
points and seven rebounds in 22 minutes.
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NBA Scoreboard
Golden State Clubhouse
New York Clubhouse
RECAPS
Portland 110
Orlando 102
Charlotte 105
Detroit 96
New York 88
Golden State 71
LA Lakers 104
Chicago 96
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