clarinews@clarinet.com (JIM SLATER, UPI Sports Writer) (01/13/90)
INDIANAPOLIS (UPI) -- When overtime arrives in the NBA, no one handles the pressure better than the New York Knicks. The Atlantic Division leaders became the NBA's undisputed kingpins of extended games Friday night with a 101-96 triumph over Indiana, giving New York its third overtime triumph in four games over the past six days. The Knicks are an NBA-best 4-0 in overtime this season, including triumphs over Washington, Indiana and the Los Angeles Clippers in the past week. New York has won eight straight regular-season overtime games in the past two seasons. ``We needed to just go out and have fun at working hard for extended minutes and enjoy it,'' coach Stu Jackson said. ``We need victories like this. It's important that whatever happens we stick together.'' Patrick Ewing scored 20 points, blocked 7 shots and pulled down 11 rebounds to lead the Knicks (24-10). Indiana (20-15) lost for the sixth time in its last seven games and fell to New York for the ninth straight time. ``He was terrific,'' Jackson said of Ewing. ``We kept pounding it to him. He was a little down about scoring (below his 28-point average) but I'm not worried. He didn't get many easy ones.'' Gerald Wilkins scored 18 points and sank a layup that gave New York its largest lead, 97-91, with 1:10 remaining in overtime. Indiana's Reggie Miller sank a 3-point shot, extending his streak of games with a 3-pointer to 17, and LaSalle Thompson stole the ball from Ewing with 40 seconds remaining in overtime to give the Pacers hope. But Indiana could not take advantage of its chance, with Miller and Thompson missing 3-point shots and Ewing claiming the second rebound. Wilkins, who contained Miller most of the night with solid defense, added four free throws to seal the victory for the Eastern Conference leaders. ``I didn't know how to play him at first but I adjusted as the game went on,'' Wilkins said. ``The key was Miller was held down in the second half.'' Indiana forward Detlef Schrempf's game-high 26 points matched a career high for the fourth-year reserve. Miller and Rik Smits each added 22 points, but Indiana shot a season-low 37 percent from the field, missing 61 of 97 shots. Miller missed 15 of 21 attempts from the field. ``We had all kinds of open shots. We just didn't get them down,'' Indiana coach Dick Versace said. ``There were enough wide-open shots to win. We just didn't hit them.'' Ewing sank 1 of 2 free throws with 45 seconds remaining in regulation to give the Knicks an 89-87 lead, but Smits banked home an inside shot with 28 seconds remaining to tie the game. Ewing missed a left-handed hook shot, sending the game into overtime. New York trailed 81-75 with 5:52 remaining in regulation, but scored 9 straight points to take the lead. Trent Tucker sank a pair of 3-point shots around a 3-point play by Wilkins, putting the Knicks ahead 84-81 with 3:03 to play. Indiana, which led 48-47 at halftime, played without forward Chuck Person, who is visiting an ill grandmother in Alabama.