Hardaway’s All-Star Campaign Is Hard on Raptors

Miami’s Tim Hardaway continued his campaign to be named to the All-Star team, this time at the expense of the Raptors.

Hardaway scored 26 points, including 16 in the third quarter to break open a close game and lead the Heat to a 99-87 victory at Toronto.

“I wanted to make a statement tonight,” Hardaway said. “I went at Damon [Stoudamire] a little bit harder tonight. In the first half I pressed a bit too hard. But in the second half I just took it to him.”

“The young players need respect for their elders,” he said. “They might get all the recognition. But we’re still running this league.”

Chicago 87, Cleveland 71--Sometimes, it’s not how many points Michael Jordan scores. It’s when and how he scores them. Jordan followed his 51-point game with 32, icing the game with two demoralizing dunks in the fourth quarter as the Bulls won at Cleveland.

Jordan, who has had more 50-point games against Cleveland than any other team, was relatively quiet until finally taking to the air early in the fourth.

Orlando 96, Milwaukee 92--With the game on the line, Derek Strong couldn’t miss. The Orlando forward, playing for the injured Horace Grant, hit the go-ahead layup with a little more than three minutes left, then made six free throws in the final 1:18 to help the Magic win at home. Penny Hardaway and Rony Seikaly each had 23 points for the Magic, who won for the sixth time in seven games.

Houston 111, New Jersey 104--The Rockets put down a late charge to defeat the visiting Nets for the eighth consecutive time.

“Until nine minutes were left in the fourth quarter, it was a clinic,” Houston’s Clyde Drexler said. “But they’re a young team, they didn’t quit. We thought the game was over and they hit some threes and got back in it.”

Hakeem Olajuwon, Drexler and Sam Mack each scored 20 points for the Rockets.

New York 92, Indiana 90--This time, the Knicks had an answer for Reggie Miller’s heroics.

Patrick Ewing had 23 points, including a basket with 17 seconds left that put New York ahead to stay as the Knicks won at Indiana.

Miller brought the Pacers back from an 85-78 deficit in the final 2:20. Miller had 10 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter.

Detroit 94, Golden State 79--For once, Grant Hill was subpar instead of superb in scoring, but the Pistons won at San Jose anyway. Hill scored eight points in the game’s opening 5:22 but was held to five points the rest of the way. Terry Mills had 22 points and Theo Ratliff added a season-high 18 to pick up the slack.

Minnesota 95, Vancouver 76--Stephon Marbury was sent home before the game because of a deep thigh bruise and when Kevin Garnett twisted an ankle late in the second quarter, it looked as though Minnesota would be down to eight players at Vancouver. But Garnett returned to score 12 of his 14 points in third quarter and Minnesota went on to win easily.