Knicks, Jazz, Hawks Advance

May 16, 1999 / 11:17 PM EDT / AP

Knicks 78, Heat 77

Allan Houston's running 14-footer bounded off the front of the rim and then hit the backboard before falling through the hoop with 0.8 seconds left Sunday, and the Knicks eliminated the Miami Heat 78-77 to win their first-round series 3-2.

Terry Porter's desperation 40-footer at the buzzer was off-line, and for the second year in a row, the Heat's season ended at home against their fiercest rivals.

It was the third winner-take-all playoff game in the past three years between the teams. The Knicks became just the second eighth-seeded team in NBA history to defeat a No. 1 seed. They also may have saved the job of coach Jeff Van Gundy, who was expected to be fired if the Knicks lost.

Jazz 99, Kings 92

In Utah, Vlade Divac missed a short hook shot that could have won it for Sacramento at the end of regulation, and the Jazz pulled away in overtime.

The Jazz won the intense first-round playoff series 3-2, with the last four contests going down to the final minute of play. After giving away the lead in the fourth quarter, the Jazz had a 9-2 run to begin the extra period.

Karl Malone had 20 points and 12 rebounds to lead Utah, which avoided its earliest playoff exit since 1995 and advanced to the second round for the fourth straight year. Jeff Hornacek added 18 points for the Jazz.

Hawks 87, Pistons 75

Atlanta's Grant Long set a career playoff-high with 26 points and the shorthanded Atlanta Hawks, rebounding from two double-digit losses in Detroit, ousted the Pistons from the playoffs in the decisive Game 5.

The Hawks, who got only two points from their bench, advanced to meet the New York Knicks beginning Tuesday night at the Georgia Dome.

Joe Dumars scored three points in the final game of his 14-year career. He left the court to a standing ovation from the Hawks' crowd and hugs from players and coaches on both teams.

Grant Hill scored 10 of the first 14 points for the Pistons, but managed only 11 the rest of the game. He has never won a playoff series with Detroit.