clarinews@clarinet.com (01/14/90)
NEW YORK (UPI) -- Reserve guard Rod Strickland, held scoreless through the first three quarters, scored 15 points in the fourth quarter Saturday night to lead the New York Knicks to a 107-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The Knicks, who trailed by as many as 16 points in the second quarter, posted their fourth win in the last five contests and improved their home record to 16-1. San Antonio lost for only the third time in the last 14 contests. The game marked the first regular-season confrontation between centers Patrick Ewing of New York and Spurs rookie David Robinson. Ewing, held to only 4 points in the first half, broke out with 10 points in the third period and finished with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Robinson and teammate Terry Cummings led San Antonio with 27 points each. Newman led New York in scoring with 19 points, while Charles Oakley had 18. With the game tied 94-94, Strickland scored on a short jumper and converted the free throw for a three-point play and a 97-94 New York lead with 3:22 to play. The Knicks led 23-22 after one period as Johnny Newman scored seven points to pace the New York attack. But the Spurs dominated the second quarter, outscoring the Knicks 35-21 for a 57-44 lead at halftime. With New York leading 30-28, the Spurs went on a 23-5 run to open up a 51-35 lead. San Antonio began the rally with 13 straight points. With Robinson resting on the bench, Cummings powered the Spurs attack with 9 points in the surge. The third quarter belonged to New York, which rallied to cut the lead to 73-71 at the end of the period. With the Spurs leading 65-50, the Knicks scored 12 straight points to wipe out the deficit. Ewing powered the run with five points. San Antonio was without the services of Caldwell Jones, who had the intestinal flu, and Sean Elliott, with a sprained left ankle suffered in Friday's game at Boston.