Latrell Sprewell broke the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game without a miss, going 9-for-9 from behind the arc Tuesday night to lead the New York Knicks past the Los Angeles Clippers 105-92.Sprewell broke the record of 8-for-8 held by Jeff Hornacek, Sam Perkins and Steve Smith, making consecutive 3s midway through the fourth quarter to break the record after a 19-point lead had shrunk to nine.
Sprewell finished with a season-high 38 points, shooting 14-for-19 overall. The crowd called for him to take another 3 in the closing minutes, but he did not oblige the one time he had a brief open look with about 35 seconds left.
Allan Houston added 20 points and Howard Eisley 11 for the Knicks.
Quentin Richardson scored 19, Elton Brand 16 and Marko Jaric 14 for the Clippers as they lost their fifth straight on the road.
Point guard Andre Miller and the Clippers got off to an awful start, turning the ball over with such regularity that at one point Los Angeles had nine turnovers and three field goals. Miller had four turnovers and a defensive 3-second violation in the first 6 minutes.
A 14-2 run gave the Knicks a 23-9 lead late in the first, and New York was ahead 55-47 at halftime after the Clippers pulled back within one point midway through the second quarter.
Sprewell went 4-for-4 from behind the arc in the third quarter during a 27-12 run that turned a 55-51 lead into an 82-63 advantage. Sprewell also had a layup, a 12-footer and a free throw in the run, and ended the third quarter with 30 points on 11-for-16 shooting.
Marko Jaric scored six consecutive points early in the fourth to make it 87-78, but Los Angeles did not have any unanswered baskets the rest of the way.
Game Notes
The NBA record for most 3s in a game is 12 by Kobe Bryant of the Lakers earlier this season. ... Sprewell tied the team record of nine 3s held by himself and John Starks. ... Lamar Odom converted a three-point play late in the second quarter after shooting the ball from behind the basket and over the backboard, with the ball hitting the top of the backboard before dropping in. NBA rules say a ball is out of bounds if it crosses over the top of the backboard, but referees Ken Mauer and Jess Kersey said a portion of the ball crossed over the top corner. Clippers coach Alvin Gentry was stunned when the officials allowed the basket. ... Corey Maggette, an 80 percent foul shooter, missed two technical free throws. Eisley, shooting 92 percent from the line for the season, went 5-for-8 on foul shots.
