TORONTO, April 30 -- Another clutch three-point shot by Larry Johnson and another fade down the stretch by Toronto Sunday sent the New York Knicks into the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday with an 87-80 victory over the Raptors.
New York swept the Raptors in three games, finishing things off in the first NBA playoff game ever played outside the United States.
Johnson hit a pair of free throws and banked in athree-pointer as the Knicks closed the game with a 9-2 run.
The Knicks, who had lost three of four regular-season games against Toronto, will meet bitter rival Miami in the conference semifinals beginning next Sunday in Miami. The Heat completed a first-round sweep of the Detroit Pistons on Saturday.
"We think we beat a really good team," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We were humbled by Toronto in the regular season. They definitely had our attention. We were much more studious in what we needed to do to win."
The inexperience of the Raptors was put on display in all three games. Toronto was slow in its defensive rotations Sunday, committed a costly turnover and failed to hit a basket in the final minute.
"They were good with their execution when they needed to be and we just didn't do it," Raptors coach Butch Carter said. "When you lose, you know there are points in the game that could have turned it around."
After Johnson converted a pair of free throws to snap a 78-78 tie with 1:10 left, Toronto appeared disorganized on offense on its next possession. Forward Charles Oakley picked up his dribble behind the top of the key and was looking to pass to a guard. None came to Oakley, who bounced a pass past Dee Brown and out of bounds.
On the next possession, Toronto ran a double-team at Latrell Sprewell, who flipped to Allan Houston. As the Raptors were slow to pick up Houston, the Knicks' best perimeter shooter dribbled to the top of the key and drilled a jumper to increase New York's lead to 82-78 with 44 seconds left.
"We executed downthe stretch not going to one particular player," Houston said. "That wins the game for you. We are unselfish with each other."
Toronto got a break when New York's Patrick Ewing inexplicably pushed Antonio Davis from behind in the lane, stopping the clock with 42 seconds left. Davis converted both free throws.
On New York's ensuing possession, Johnson stuck a dagger in the Raptors when he banked in a three-pointer from the left elbow with 24 seconds left, increasing the lead to 85-80.
"It was lucky, but I'll take it," Johnson said. "I just go out and try to do whatever my coaches and teammates ask of me in order to win."
"When a guy shoots a three off the glass it's a heartbreaker," Raptors swingman Tracy McGrady said. "We were in every game. It's unfortunate we didn't pull any of these games out."
It was yet another pivotal playoff three-pointer for Johnson, who came to the rescue with a tie-breaking, 25-foot jumper with 42 seconds left in New York's 92-88 win in Game 1 last Sunday.
"He's been put in that situation time and time again and has delivered for us," Sprewell said.
Johnson shot just 33 percent from behind the arc this season, but has a penchant for hitting clutch playoff three-pointers. His most famous turned into a four-point play and gave the Knicks a stunning 92-91 win over the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of last year's conference finals. Johnson also hit a pair of three-pointers in the final minutes of New York's Game 5 win at Indiana.
All-Star forward Vince Carter and Dee Brown both missed three-pointers in the final seconds and Chris Childs converted a pair of free throws for the final margin.
Houston led the Knicks with 23 points and Johnson added 14, including eight in the fourth quarter.
Davis led the Raptors with 18 points and 12 rebounds and Carter added 15 points, but was just five of 17 from the field and 15 of 50 for the series.
"I was glad to help the Raptors get into the playoffs, but there is still a sore spot in the back of your mind because you didn't win a game," Vince Carter said. "I realize now that I won't be playing any more basketball and I have to go home and watch, which is tough."
