NEW YORK, March 21 (UPI) -- Slumping Latrell Sprewell scored 13 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter Friday night as the New York Knicks improved their playoff chances with a 97-93 victory over the Eastern Conference-leading Detroit Pistons.
Out of rhythm with the offense running through a red-hot Allan Houston, Sprewell erupted when the Knicks needed him most and led them in scoring for the first time in seven games.
Cliff Robinson hit a pair of free throws with 39 seconds left to get Detroit within 95-93, but Sprewell spun to the left baseline and made a shot while falling out of bounds, barely beating the shot clock with 15 seconds to play.
Houston, who averaged nearly 38 points over the previous four games, finished with 19 as the Knicks moved within two games of Milwaukee and Washington for the final playoff berth in the East.
The Pistons had their lead atop the conference trimmed to two games over idle New Jersey, losing for the seventh time in their last eight on the road.
Richard Hamilton scored 27 points and Ben Wallace grabbed 18 rebounds for Detroit.
