Nets, Cassell pained by overtime loss to Knicks
NEW YORK -- Chris Childs scored on a drive around Sam Cassell with 6.3 seconds left in overtime, and Cassell was then injured on a controversial final play as New York defeated New Jersey 89-88 Wednesday night.
Cassell, who scored a career-high 34 points, appeared to be fouled by Allan Houston as he shot a 20-foot jumper with under a second left. Even though Houston jumped up and landed on Cassell's shoulder, no foul was called.
Cassell stayed down on the floor in obvious pain for several minutes before walking off doubled over in agony. There was no immediate word on how badly he was hurt.
It was a dramatic finish to a spirited game with a playoff-like atmosphere between an up-and-coming Nets team trying to make a statement and an aging, injured Knicks team that needed to show some pride.
The Nets seemed to make their case with a 20-0 run late in the first half that kept them ahead until the final seconds of regulation, but the Knicks showed their poise by limiting New Jersey to nine points for the entire fourth period.
Larry Johnson led New York with 24 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in overtime. Houston had 16 points, including a 27-foot 3-pointer with 7.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter that gave the Knicks their first tie since the second quarter.
Cassell was practically a one-man show for the Nets, shooting 11-for-26 from the field and 11-for-14 from the line to top his previous career-high by one point. Keith Van Horn and Kerry Kittles added 12 each.
New Jersey led 88-87 with 47.8 seconds left in overtime after Cassell made one of two free throws.
Houston missed a drive at the other end, Buck Williams grabbed the offensive rebound, Houston missed a jumper and Charles Oakley got another offensive board.
After a timeout, Childs had the ball at the top of the key, lost Cassell with a nifty, 360-degree spin move to his left and eluded Jayson Williams' arm by hesitating just a bit on his layup, which spun through to give New York the winning points.
The Knicks mobbed Childs as New Jersey called timeout and the crowd went wild. But it wasn't all over until Cassell attempted his final shot and ended up writhing in pain.
Notes: The Knicks' usual fourth-quarter sparkplug, John Starks, remained on the bench for the entire period because of a strained right hamstring. ... Nets guard Sherman Douglas injured his ankle in overtime. ... Kendall Gill spoke beforehand on the importance of the game: "It's time for them to put up or shut up. If they can beat us tonight, then OK, they can still beat us." ... Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy was asked about a New York tabloid report that he would be fired unless he gets the team to win consistently in the next 30 days. "I might have one day left," he joked. ``I've been fired in the papers about six times. If you can't live with that, you don't belong in New York."