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© St. Petersburg Times, published March 8, 2003
ORLANDO -- The Magic defeats every team it comes across recently -- except the Knicks.
Latrell Sprewell scored 13 of his 33 in the third quarter and New York beat Orlando for the second time in a week, 111-102 Friday night. Those are the Magic's only losses in its past nine games.
"I'm going to cherish this feeling right here," New York coach Don Chaney said.
For Orlando, Tracy McGrady scored 37 -- 14 in second quarter. Drew Gooden had 19 points and eight rebounds.
Sprewell's 3-pointer with 6:14 left gave New York its largest lead at 97-84. He shot 12-for-20 from the field and made all seven free throws. In the Knicks' double-overtime win against Orlando last week, he scored 28 -- 18 after regulation.
Orlando closed within five with 59 seconds left on a dunk by Gordan Giricek, who scored 18. But New York sank four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal it.
"I thought we showed up -- and they showed up for a playoff game," Orlando coach Doc Rivers said.
Orlando's Grant Hill, sidelined since mid January with a sore ankle, told the Orlando Sentinel he will not return this season. Hill, who has missed 179 games since signing a $93-million contract three years ago, said he would return next season.
CELTICS 83, CLIPPERS 72: J.R. Bremer scored a career-high 25 for host Boston, spoiling Dennis Johnson's return to the city. What started as a moving reunion between Johnson, interim coach for the Clippers, and the fans who saw him win two NBA titles in the 1980s turned bizarre midway through the second half when the Celtics suddenly bolted from their bench, unable to breathe.
"Everybody started coughing," center Mark Blount said. "I felt like I was going to throw up, man."
Paul E. Johnson, the NBA security official assigned to Boston, said police believe four men released a canister of pepper spray as a prank, then left the building. There was no odor, but players and fans reported problems with their throats and eyes.
Celtics coach Jim O'Brien wanted to cancel or postpone the game.
BUCKS 85, WIZARDS 82: Gary Payton and Sam Cassell scored a combined 42 for visiting Milwaukee. Michael Jordan, recovering from a sore leg and back spasms, missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer. Cassell scored 24 and Payton had 18 as both regularly drove with little resistance. The victory was crucial as both teams entered their last meeting of the season tied for eighth in the East and 1-1 in head-to-head meetings. If they finish tied for eighth at the end of the regular season, Milwaukee gets the playoff nod. KINGS 108, JAZZ 105 (OT): Peja Stojakovic scored seven of his 19 in overtime and Chris Webber had 24 points and 15 rebounds for visiting Sacramento. Mike Bibby sealed it with four straight free throws in the final 18.2 seconds. Utah shot 4-for-15 in overtime. Karl Malone led the Jazz in scoring for the 10th straight game with 25 points, but scored just two after forcing overtime on two free throws with 4.7 seconds left.
MAVS 91, HEAT 89: Steve Nash scored 22 and Dirk Nowitzki added 21 as visiting Dallas held off a late rally. A 10-2 run culminating in a layup from Caron Butler pulled the Heat within two with 1:02 left. With Dallas ahead by four, Michael Finley fouled Mike James on a 3-point attempt with 2.9 seconds left. He hit three free throws, then Nash missed his first of the night. But Miami's Malik Allen had an 18-footer rim out.
HORNETS 102, CAVS 76: Jamaal Magloire scored 20 as host New Orleans won its eighth straight. David Wesley, who finished with 17 points, gave New Orleans the lead for good just 1:53 in when he hit a pair of free throws for a 6-4 lead.
LAKERS 106, WOLVES 96: Shaquille O'Neal had 40 points and 14 rebounds, and Kobe Bryant scored 30 for host Los Angeles. Rasho Nesterovic led Minnesota with 19 points.
WILLIAMS CASE: A New Jersey appellate court rejected a bid by ex-Net Jayson Williams to have it consider arguments that prosecutors have misused the grand jury system. Lawyers for Williams, reacting to a new manslaughter indictment returned Wednesday, wanted the appellate panel to hear arguments next week, as scheduled, on why the first indictment was flawed. Williams, 35, is accused of recklessly handling the shotgun that killed driver Costas "Gus" Christofi.
SONICS: The league fined coach Nate McMillan ($7,500) and center Jerome James ($5,000) for criticizing refs after Wednesday's loss at Utah.
WNBA: Former Bucks assistant Mike Thibault was hired to coach the Connecticut Sun.