Rice Works Overtime, Hornets Win

Glen Rice scored 34 points, including a three-point basket to tie the score late in regulation, and the Charlotte Hornets defeated the New York Knicks, 113-104, in overtime Friday night at Charlotte, N.C.

Rice tied the score with 7.7 seconds left, then blocked a shot by Allan Houston at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

The tying shot came after Dell Curry and Vlade Divac missed from long range. Divac’s shot bounced all the way out to the three-point line and into Rice’s hands.

In the extra period, Rice converted a three-point play to give the Hornets a 105-100 lead. Anthony Mason added two free throws and Curry made a three-point shot with 29.5 seconds left to clinch the victory.

The Hornets (24-17) won for the sixth time in the last seven games and improved to a season-best seven games over .500.

Mason finished with 17 points, 18 rebounds and six assists against his old teammates. He won the battle with former Hornet Larry Johnson, who finished with 14 points, three rebounds and five assists. Johnson also missed four consecutive free throws late in the game.

Atlanta 117, Washington 105--Steve Smith scored 13 points in the final 2:57 of overtime to lead the Hawks to their 18th consecutive home victory.

The Hawks outscored the Bullets, 19-7, in the extra period to win their fourth overtime game, all at home, in the last 10 games.

Atlanta’s Henry James made eight of 10 three-point shots, matching Sam Perkins’ mark for the most three-point baskets in a game this season. In all, the Hawks made 15 of 30 three-point attempts.

The Bullets were the last team to beat Atlanta, on Dec. 28 at Baltimore, before the Hawks started a 10-game winning streak that ended Tuesday night at Miami.

Orlando 121, Boston 117--Brian Shaw put the Magic ahead for good with a three-point basket with 29 seconds left at Boston as Orlando evened its record (19-19) for the first time since Dec. 13.

Penny Hardaway, who scored 28 points, made two free throws with 21 seconds left and Gerald Wilkins added a free throw with seven seconds left.

It was the second consecutive overtime defeat for the Celtics, who lost to Philadelphia, 127-125, Wednesday night. Boston is 0-11 on Fridays and 0-11 against Atlantic Division teams.

Sacramento 107, Philadelphia 92--Mitch Richmond scored 21 of his 33 points in the second half to help the Kings hand the 76ers their 12th consecutive home loss.

Jerry Stackhouse scored 29 points to lead the 76ers, who have lost 24 of their last 26 games. The 76ers haven’t won at CoreStates Center since Nov. 30 when they defeated Vancouver.

San Antonio 97, Dallas 87--The Spurs, who came into the game as the league’s second-lowest scoring team at 88.2 points per game, were never seriously threatened at San Antonio.

Dominique Wilkins came off the bench to score 24 points to lead the Spurs. Dallas, which has lost three games in a row, was led by Chris Gatling with 25 points.

Portland 115, Phoenix 105--The Trail Blazers, short-handed at Phoenix because of an injury to center Arvydas Sabonis and a trade that sent three reserves to Detroit for Stacey Augmon, won for the 10th time in their last 13 games.

Gary Trent had 24 points and 13 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who suited up only 10 players. Kenny Anderson added 22 points and a season-high 15 assists.