Knicks Win One On The Road

March 28, 1998 / 2:27 AM EST / CBS/AP

The New York Knicks are finding ways to win on their four-game Western road trip.

The Knicks got a pair of key 16-foot jump shots from Larry Johnson in the final two minutes of overtime as they defeated the Vancouver Grizzlies 97-89 Friday night and improved to 3-0 on their trip.

"We haven't played the best basketball, but we have found ways to win games at the end and get stops when we need to," said Allan Houston, who finished with 20 points for the Knicks. "We are at least creating some good shots when we need them and that is all you can ask for, a chance at a good shot."

Houston said that overconfidence won't be a problem for the Knicks when they try and wrap up a perfect road trip at Seattle on Saturday.

"We are going to go in and play with confidence and go in and give ourselves every possibility to win the game. That is all you can do on the road," Houston said.

"We have to improve our execution on offense against Seattle and make sure we don't turn the ball over. If we can force some turnovers and play some intelligent basketball we are going to have a chance to win again."

The Knicks had to battle back at the end of regulation just to send Friday's game into overtime, as Charles Oakley hit a pair of free throws with 9.2 seconds remaining to tie the game 83-83. Charlie Ward scored six of his 14 points in the final 2:45 of regulation to allow the Knicks to keep pace.

"We had to come out and execute in overtime. We did a good job of it and shut them down pretty good," Ward said. "Guys have come up big and made some big shots for us on this road trip and that is what we are going to need again tomorrow against Seattle."

Johnson shot 10-of-16 from the field and pulled down seven rebounds for the Knicks, who rallied late in the fourth quarter to force overtime.

John Starks contributed 15 points and five assists, and Oakley had 10 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks.

Bryant Reeves led Vancouver with 35 points, breaking the 30-point barrier for the third straight game, and pulled down 14 rebounds as he logged a season-high 49 minutes.

Shareef Abdur-Rahim had 19 points while Blue Edwards, starting at shooting guard in place of the injured Sam Mack, had 16 points.

New York led 45-42 at halftime.

Notes: The Knicks are first in the NBA in opposition scoring (88.6 ppg) and second in opposition field goal pct. (.425) ... Reeves is second among NBA centers in scoring since the All-Star break, averaging 22.4 ppg to go along with 9.2 rpg ... Michael Smith is averaging one rebound every 3.1 minutes since being acquired from Sacramento ... Vancouver signed guard Larry Robinson to a 10-day contract. Robinson led the CBA in scoring this season, averaging 20.5 points, 3.4 assists nd 4.7 rebounds for the Rockford Lightning.