Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 15, 1993 TAG: 9305150242
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHARLOTTE, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Instead of looking for his teammates as he usually does from the point guard position, Bogues hit a jumper and two free throws in the final minute, and the Charlotte Hornets survived their second double-overtime game in the playoffs Friday night, taking a 110-106 victory over the New York Knicks.
"I wasn't hesitant tonight," said Bogues, at 5-foot-3 the NBA's shortest player. "I was looking for my shot, and the shot felt good. The worst thing you can do is miss. That's what Doug Collins said. I'm going to keep that in my mind."
The Hornets took their first victory in the second round, rallying in regulation and getting clutch free throws from Alonzo Mourning in the first overtime. Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Sunday afternoon.
In the first round, Charlotte went into double overtime against the Boston Celtics, winning that contest 99-98 and going on to capture the series.
Bogues' jumper followed Patrick Ewing's missed jumper with 40 seconds left. New York's second chance died when Charles Oakley lost the rebound out of bounds.
With New York forced to foul in order to get the ball back, Bogues went to the line twice in the last 12 seconds. On the second foul, he sealed the victory with two free throws.
"I think I've been too unselfish." Bogues said. "I hit some big shots, and I've got to keep taking them."
Mourning had 34 points and 10 rebounds for Charlotte and Larry Johnson got 31 points, Bogues 16 and Johnny Newman 11.
Ewing, who played the last two minutes of regulation and both overtimes with five fouls, got 26 points and 14 rebounds for New York. Oakley added 19 points and 13 rebounds and John Starks had 19 points.
Mourning hit two free throws with 12 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the score at 102. Starks went one-on-one with Bogues, backing him into the lane, but Bogues stripped the ball as time expired in the first overtime.
With the series at 2-1 in New York's favor, Charlotte coach Allan Bristow found a source for optimism - and concern.
"Game four is going to be the toughest game for us to win at home," Bristow said. "It's always the second game of a back-to-back that's the toughest to play. We've got to be ready to go."
It looked as though Charlotte's hopes for victory would again fade in another fourth-quarter collapse. New York went on a 9-0 run, including a crucial 3-pointer by Starks with 3:36 left in regulation, for a 90-84 lead.
Bogues scored at 3:15 and Johnson hit a 3-pointer from the right wing with 2:05 left, bringing the Hornets to 90-89.
Ewing, who had returned at the 2:50 mark, scored on a contested jumper from the right baseline with 1:42 left. Mourning retaliated with a layup at 1:31, but Ewing came back for New York with a layup with 1:18, giving the Knicks a 94-91 edge.
Johnson hit one free throw at 1:09 and the Knicks worked the ball to Ewing for a third straight jumper. But he missed from the right wing and Mourning scored on a jump hook with 30.9 seconds left, tying the score at 94. Doc Rivers missed a 3-pointer from the left wing and Mourning grabbed the rebound. After Charlotte's timeout, Johnson's fadeaway jumper from the right baseline rolled out and Ewing grabbed the rebound. Starks missed a desperation shot at the buzzer.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB