Advertisement

NBA ROUNDUP : Oakley Gives Knicks an At-Home Feeling

Charles Oakley had 17 points and 24 rebounds Saturday night to lead the New York Knicks to a 108-102 victory over the Charlotte Hornets.

The victory enabled the Knicks to avoid being the only playoff team with a losing record at home.

The Knicks finished 21-20 at Madison Square Garden, and this marked the only time all season they were above .500 at home.

Advertisement

Oakley scored nine points in the last quarter when the Knicks finally subdued the Hornets. His three-point play with 2:52 remaining gave the Knicks the lead for good, 95-92.

The Knicks won 10 of their last 13 at home, including the last four in a row.

The Hornets, who finished their season 26-56, built a 41-33 lead in the second quarter.

The Knicks will face the Chicago Bulls in the best-of-five first round series. The Bulls had the best record in the East.

The Knicks played without starters Gerald Wilkins and Kiki Vandeweghe because of injuries, and Mike Gminski missed Charlotte’s final game with a bruised right elbow.

Advertisement

New Jersey 118, Miami 103--Mookie Blaylock scored a career-high 27 points at East Rutherford, N.J. The Heat ended their third NBA season with 24 victories, their highest total.

Only Denver had fewer victories than the Heat.

The Heat played without two of its best players, Sherman Douglas and Rony Seikaly, both of whom are injured.

Net Coach Bill Fitch denied he planned to quit. He has two years left on his contract.

Milwaukee 133, Indiana 100--Jay Humphries had eight of his 20 points in a 15-2 run in the second quarter at Milwaukee, and the Bucks went on to end their four-game losing streak.

Advertisement

The Bucks, who will open the playoffs at home against Philadelphia, finished with a 48-34 record. The Bucks were 33-8 at home.

The Pacers, who had won three in a row, open the playoffs at Boston after finishing 41-41.

Advertisement