NBA ROUNDUP : Trail Blazers Win Easily Over Knicks

Clyde Drexler scored 33 points and Clifford Robinson 24 as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the New York Knicks, 111-87, on Sunday night at Portland.

Drexler scored 31 in the first three quarters, dominating defenders John Starks and Hubert Davis and more than offsetting a 24-point, 14-rebound performance by Patrick Ewing of the Knicks.

“Tonight’s game is a good example of how well we can play,” said Drexler, who made 14 of 19 shots and didn’t have a turnover. In his only game against the Knicks last season, Drexler made one of 11 shots and scored two points.

Rod Strickland added 17 points and 11 assists as Portland’s starting guards outscored their New York counterparts, 50-15. The Blazers’ Chris Dudley matched Ewing’s rebound total with 14.

“We haven’t played any better than that, that’s for sure,” Portland Coach P.J. Carlesimo said.

Charles Smith scored 18 for the Knicks, who finished their Pacific Division trip at 1-2 with a victory over the Sacramento Kings and losses to the Phoenix Suns and the Trail Blazers.

“Our perimeter game is nonexistent,” Knick Coach Pat Riley said. “I am not accusing a team like ours that has a collective heart of not trying. But I see a real trend developing where we’re getting beat in a lot of phases.”

New Jersey 103, Miami 102--Benoit Benjamin scored 12 of his season-high 24 points in the fourth quarter at East Rutherford, N.J., including two free throws with 2.4 seconds to play that gave the Nets the victory.

The Nets trailed entering the fourth quarter, 80-76, and fell further behind when Bimbo Coles and Kevin Willis made early baskets, giving Miami an 84-78 lead.

But Benjamin scored nine points in a 22-5 run that gave New Jersey a 98-89 lead with 4:05 to play.

Utah 101, Milwaukee 98--Karl Malone scored 27 points at Milwaukee to help the Jazz to its team-record eighth consecutive road victory.

Jeff Hornacek scored 20, including nine late in the fourth quarter, as the Jazz, playing its fourth game in five nights, extended its winning streak to five games.

Todd Day led Milwaukee with 23 points, Eric Murdock had 19 and Glenn Robinson 18.

The Bucks haven’t defeated the Jazz since Jan. 8, 1992, losing the last six meetings.