LANDOVER -- For a brief time in the second quarter, the Washington Bullets looked like one of those running West Coast teams, a style that would help cut an 18-point second-half deficit to two early in the fourth quarter. But a few veterans from the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks brought them to a halt.
Patrick Ewing scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds, and Charles Oakley had 16 points and nine rebounds, and both used their
veteran smarts to help the Knicks beat the Bullets, 99-91, before a sellout crowd of 18,756 at USAir Arena last night.
Chris Webber scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in his second straight strong effort, and Kevin Duckworth shook off an injured groin for 16 points and eight rebounds. But it wasn't enough to stop the Bullets from dropping their sixth straight game.
After falling behind by as many as 18 points in the third quarter, the Bullets were within 75-73 after two free throws by Mitchell Butler just over a minute into the final quarter.
Then the Bullets got a scare when Webber was elbowed in the chin by Anthony Mason after stepping in the lane defensively in an attempt to take a charge.
Webber stayed down for several minutes and had to leave the game. His absence was brief, but New York had recovered enough and had a 91-84 lead after a jumper by Oakley with 3:18 left.
Two straight layups by Webber, the second coming with 2:31 left, had Washington within 91-88. But Ewing grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a short jumper, then Charles Smith scored on a layup with 1:25 left to give the Knicks a 95-88 lead and control of the game.
The past two weeks had been a struggle for the Knicks, who had lost four of their previous seven games. But a well-balanced first half in which five players scored seven or more points helped New York to a 54-45 halftime lead.
There was some question whether Duckworth would start, having missed the second half of Saturday's game and Monday's practice with a groin pull. But the 7-foot center was in the starting lineup, and looked sharp early as he scored seven first-quarter points.
Scott Skiles, who had struggled for Washington the past two games, had a big first quarter with nine points and four assists. After the Bullets had fallen behind by five points early, it was Skiles' jumper with 4:06 left that gave Washington a 16-15 lead.
New York later would match its biggest lead when Ewing's short jumper gave the Knicks a 24-21 lead with 2:09 left. But the Bullets hit five free throws to end the quarter and take a 26-24 lead.
The depth of the Knicks proved a factor at the start of the second quarter when the reserve backcourt of Greg Anthony and Hubert Davis scored New York's first nine points. A three-pointer by Davis with 10:37 left gave the Knicks a 33-30 lead.
Washington would not get closer than three the rest of the half and, again, the Bullets had a problem getting Webber involved in the offense. He took only two shots in the first quarter and four in the second.
The 6-10 forward did try to get Washington back in the game by hitting consecutive jumpers. The second, with 1:08 left, got the Bullets within 48-44. But New York outscored the Bullets 9-3 over the last 87 seconds. Derek Harper's three-pointer with 30.1 seconds left gave the Knicks their biggest lead (54-45) going into the half.
Ewing's 10 points, nine by Charles Smith and eight apiece by Davis and Anthony led the Knicks, who had a 22-8 advantage in points in the paint.
Skiles' 11 points and seven by Duckworth led Washington, which trailed despite outshooting New York, 48.7 percent to 43.8 percent.
New York looked to knock out the Bullets at the start of the third quarter, quickly taking a 63-49 lead after a layup by Oakley. Washington would cut it to 63-53 after a hook shot by Duckworth, but the Knicks came back with a 12-4 run and took their biggest lead (75-57) after two free throws by Oakley with 3:49 left.