NBA  FINAL           1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH     TOTAL
                     --- --- --- ---     -----
     NEW YORK         12  26  22  22       82
     CHARLOTTE        29  29  21  27      106    FINAL


 HIGH SCORERS:  NYK - KURT THOMAS 17, PATRICK EWING 17, LARRY JOHNSON 16
                CHA - DAVID WESLEY 24, BOBBY PHILLS 18, CHUCKY BROWN 15


 HIGH REBOUND:  NYK - KURT THOMAS 9, LARRY JOHNSON 7
                CHA - ELDEN CAMPBELL 7, BOBBY PHILLS 5


 HIGH ASSISTS:  NYK - CHRIS CHILDS 8, ALLAN HOUSTON 4
                CHA - DAVID WESLEY 7, EDDIE JONES 6


          ATT:  19,810
                                                                        

Extended Box


NEW YORK (82) AT CHARLOTTE (106)


NEW YORK
                                               REBOUNDS
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===


JOHNSON           F    34    4-11     8-8      2   5   7    0   1   1   1   16
THOMAS            F    31    8-14     1-2      3   6   9    1   4   0   1   17
EWING             C    24    5-8      7-8      1   5   6    0   2   0   1   17
HOUSTON           G    23    1-8      3-4      0   2   2    4   1   0   1    5
WARD              G    28    3-8      0-0      2   0   2    3   5   4   5    6
CHILDS                 27    1-2      0-0      0   2   2    8   2   0   1    2
B DAVIS                 7    1-5      0-2      3   1   4    1   0   0   0    2
DUDLEY                  7    0-1      0-0      1   0   1    0   1   0   0    0
SPREWELL               39    5-16     3-3      1   2   3    3   3   1   3   13
WILLIAMS                5    0-0      2-2      1   1   2    0   0   0   1    2
WINGATE                15    1-4      0-0      1   0   1    3   2   0   0    2
CAMBY                 DNP - STRAINED LEFT GROIN


TOTALS                240   29-77    24-29    15  24  39   23  21   6  14   82
                            (.377)   (.828) TEAM REBS: 8  TOTAL TO: 15(22 PTS)


CHARLOTTE
                                               REBOUNDS
PLAYER           POS  MIN  FGM-FGA  FTM-FTA  OFF-DEF-TOT  AST  PF  ST  TO  PTS
======           ===  ===  =======  =======  ===========  ===  ==  ==  ==  ===


BROWN             F    31    7-8      0-0      0   4   4    2   0   0   2   15
PHILLS            F    31    6-9      5-7      0   5   5    4   1   1   1   18
CAMPBELL          C    29    5-8      4-4      1   6   7    2   4   0   0   14
JONES             G    33    2-9      4-4      0   2   2    6   1   5   1    8
WESLEY            G    35    7-10     7-8      0   3   3    7   5   2   4   24
BECK                   13    1-2      0-0      0   2   2    2   2   0   2    2
DAVIS                  12    0-2      3-4      0   1   1    1   2   0   1    3
MILLER                  5    0-1      0-0      1   2   3    1   0   0   1    0
PERSON                 16    6-8      0-0      0   2   2    0   2   0   0   14
RECASNER               21    2-5      2-2      0   1   1    3   2   1   1    7
SHACKLEFORD            14    0-0      1-2      0   3   3    1   2   1   0    1
COLEMAN               DNP - SPRAINED LEFT ANKLE


TOTALS                240   36-62    26-31     2  31  33   29  21  10  13  106
                            (.581)   (.839) TEAM REBS: 4  TOTAL TO: 13(19 PTS)


   NEW YORK           12   26   22   22  -   82
   CHARLOTTE          29   29   21   27  -  106


BLOCKED SHOTS: NEW YORK -  EWING 2, DUDLEY. CHARLOTTE -  CAMPBELL 2, BECK,
BROWN, PHILLS, SHACKLEFORD.
3-PT. FIELD GOALS: NEW YORK 0-9 (.000), JOHNSON 0-2, HOUSTON 0-1, WARD
0-2, CHILDS 0-1, SPREWELL 0-3. CHARLOTTE 8-14 (.571), BROWN 1-2, PHILLS
1-3, JONES 0-1, WESLEY 3-5, PERSON 2-2, RECASNER 1-1.
TECHNICALS: NEW YORK - CHILDS 2 (EJECTED).
OFFICIALS: JACK NIES, TED BERNHARDT, BENNIE ADAMS.
A - 19,810. T - 2:06.
                                                                        

Box Score


NEW YORK (82)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Johnson         34  4-11   8-8   2-7  0  1   16
Thomas          31  8-14   1-2   3-9  1  4   17
Ewing           24   5-8   7-8   1-6  0  2   17
Houston         23   1-8   3-4   0-2  4  1    5
Ward            28   3-8   0-0   2-2  3  5    6
Childs          27   1-2   0-0   0-2  8  2    2
B Davis          7   1-5   0-2   3-4  1  0    2
Dudley           7   0-1   0-0   1-1  0  1    0
Sprewell        39  5-16   3-3   1-3  3  3   13
Williams         5   0-0   2-2   1-2  0  0    2
Wingate         15   1-4   0-0   1-1  3  2    2
Camby          DNP - strained left groin
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         240 29-77 24-29 15-39 23 21   82
_______________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.377, FT-.828. 3-Point Goals:
0-9, .000 (Johnson 0-2, Houston 0-1, Ward 0-2,
Childs 0-1, Sprewell 0-3). Team rebounds: 8.
Blocked shots: 3 (Ewing 2, Dudley). Turnovers: 15
(Ward 5, Sprewell 3, Childs, Ewing, Houston,
Johnson, Thomas, Williams). Steals: 6 (Ward 4,
Johnson, Sprewell).


CHARLOTTE (106)
                      fg    ft    rb
               min   m-a   m-a   o-t  a pf   tp
Brown           31   7-8   0-0   0-4  2  0   15
Phills          31   6-9   5-7   0-5  4  1   18
Campbell        29   5-8   4-4   1-7  2  4   14
Jones           33   2-9   4-4   0-2  6  1    8
Wesley          35  7-10   7-8   0-3  7  5   24
Beck            13   1-2   0-0   0-2  2  2    2
Davis           12   0-2   3-4   0-1  1  2    3
Miller           5   0-1   0-0   1-3  1  0    0
Person          16   6-8   0-0   0-2  0  2   14
Recasner        21   2-5   2-2   0-1  3  2    7
Shackleford     14   0-0   1-2   0-3  1  2    1
Coleman        DNP - sprained left ankle
_______________________________________________
TOTALS         240 36-62 26-31  2-33 29 21  106
_______________________________________________


Percentages: FG-.581, FT-.839. 3-Point Goals:
8-14, .571 (Brown 1-2, Phills 1-3, Jones 0-1,
Wesley 3-5, Person 2-2, Recasner 1-1). Team
rebounds: 4. Blocked shots: 6 (Campbell 2, Beck,
Brown, Phills, Shackleford). Turnovers: 13
(Wesley 4, Beck 2, Brown 2, Davis, Jones, Miller,
Phills, Recasner). Steals: 10 (Jones 5, Wesley 2,
Phills, Recasner, Shackleford).
____________________________________________
New York           12   26   22   22  -   82
Charlotte          29   29   21   27  -  106
____________________________________________
Technical fouls: New York 2 (Childs 2 (ejected),
7:46 4th). Flagrant fouls: None.  A: 19,810. T:
2:06. Officials: Jack Nies, Ted Bernhardt, Bennie
Adams.
                                                                        

Game Story


CHARLOTTE, North Carolina (Ticker) -- The New York Knicks'
collapse came early against the Charlotte Hornets. 


New York scored 12 points in the first quarter, fell behind by
17 and were embarrassed by the Hornets, 106-82, further
hampering its playoff chances in what was once a season of high
expectations. 


The Knicks have suffered numerous fourth-quarter meltdowns
during an inconsistent season, scoring 15 points in the final
period of Tuesday's 81-72 home loss to the Orlando Magic. 
Tonight, the game was never in doubt after the opening period. 


"The first quarter was as bad as you could have it," Knicks
coach Jeff Van Gundy said.  "The Hornets made their open shots
and we didn't.  It is my responsibility and I have not done my
job.  I was hoping we would come out stronger and more
determined in the first quarter but we seemed lifeless at
times." 


Charlotte used a 9-0 run to close the quarter and take a 29-12
lead.  The Knicks shot 5-of-20 (25 percent) from the field in
the first period while allowing Hornets guard David Wesley, who
averages 13 points per game, to score nine of his game-high 24
points. 


Bobby Phills contributed 18 points and Chucky Brown tied a
season high with 15 for Charlotte, which recorded its most
lopsided victory over the Knicks.  The Hornets also broke a
five-game losing streak. 


"Tonight, everything came together," said Hornets interim coach
Paul Silas, a former Knicks assistant.  "It was a complete game.
We had a good practice yesterday, and it all just came
together." 


Elden Campbell scored the game's first four points on two free
throws and a short jumper and Charlotte never trailed.  They
used a 7-0 spurt and opened a 13-5 lead on Brown's 3-pointer
with seven minutes left in the quarter. 


Patrick Ewing brought the Knicks within 20-12 by making the
second of two free throws with 3:41 left.  But the Knicks did
not score again in the period as the Hornets took control. 


"It was a frustrating night for us," said Ewing, who scored 17
points.  "Things are not going particularly well for whatever
reason.  I don't have an excuse or an explanation.  We're
letting ourselves down.  We're not getting the job done." 


Wesley pushed the lead to double figures with a nine-footer from
the left sidline and grabbed a rebound on the other end when
Latrell Sprewell misfired on a jumper.  After the Knicks got
back the ball, Sprewell, who shot 5-of-16 and committed three
turnovers, threw a bad pass. 


After another miss by Sprewell with just under two minutes to
play, Wesley drained a 3-pointer.  The Knicks turned it over on
a shot clock violation and Wesley hit a short jumper from the
right sideline to make it 27-12.  Eldridge Recasner fed Campbell
for a layup with 21 seconds left to complete the scoring in the
quarter. 


"Anytime you get a quick start, it helps," Campbell said.  "Our
defense has been steady, it has just been our offense that has
been stagnant.  Our goal was to come out and put up points.  We
could tell they were a little tired so we wanted to run and
penetrate as much as possible." 


Charlotte maintained at least a 19-point advantage thereafter
and opened their biggest lead with 3:54 remaining in the fourth
quarter after Ricky Davis connected on the first of two free
throws to make it 103-74. 


Campbell had 14 points and seven rebounds and Chuck Person also
scored 14 for Charlotte, which played without forward Derrick
Coleman, who is sidelined with a strained left groin.  The
Hornets shot 58 percent (36-of-62) and were 8-of-14 from beyond
the arc. 


"We have been working hard on our shooting the last several
days," Brown said. "We wanted to come out and just be relaxed
tonight.  Our shots tend to fall when we don't have as much
pressure on ourselves to score and make plays." 


Kurt Thomas also scored 17 points for the Knicks, who were
without injured forward Marcus Camby.  But it's doubtful he
could have helped New York, which connected on only 38 percent
(29-of-77) of its field goals and missed all of its nine 3-point
attempts. 


"There has to be changes, me and them (the players)," Van Gundy
said. 


New York held a 39-33 advantage on the boards behind nine
rebounds for Thomas. But Charlotte went 26-of-31 from the foul
line and turned 15 Knicks' turnovers into 22 points. 


"We're not competing and that's the only way to get out of a
rut," said Knicks guard Chris Childs.  "Change is just not going
to happen on it's own.  We don't believe in one another right
now, but we just have to keep playing hard." 
                                                                        

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