Westphal, Suns Save Face, Keep Prediction Alive

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Paul Westphal made good on the first part of his prediction, but the Los Angeles Lakers came remarkably close to sweeping the Suns out of the first round of the playoffs and making the Phoenix coach eat his bold words.

Phoenix held off a series of comebacks by the Lakers, who cut a 14-point deficit to one point with 19.7 seconds to play, and stayed alive in the Western Conference first-round, best-of-five series with a 107-102 victory last night at the Forum.

Westphal had flatly declared the Suns would win last night and again tomorrow at the Forum, but the Lakers almost spoiled his game plan with a furious rally.

Vlade Divac had a career playoff-high 30 points to lead the Lakers, who get another chance tomorrow night to become the first eighth-seeded playoff team ever to oust a top-seeded team.

Sedale Threatt's late three-pointer cut the Suns' lead to 101-100, but the Lakers were held at bay to give Westphal the first playoff coaching triumph of his career.

The Suns - who got 27 points from Charles Barkley - are attempting to become the first team in NBA playoff history to win a best-of-five series after losing the first two games at home.

Yesterday, posted prominently in the Laker locker room, was an enlarged photocopy of Westphal's declaration that Phoenix would win the series.

Pacers 116, Knicks 93 -- INDIANAPOLIS - John Starks' teammates talked about his heroics after Game 2. They screamed at him during Game 3.

The New York Knick guard was ejected last night after he head-butted Reggie Miller, whose ensuing free throws sparked a spurt that carried Indiana to a 116-93 victory, their first in the best-of-5 first-round series.

The Knicks lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 in Indianapolis tomorrow night.

After the ejection, the Pacers outscored the Knicks 59-34.

"I don't condone that in the least. That was a play that simply shouldn't have been made," New York Coach Pat Riley said. "It definitely fueled them more than it did us."

Bulls 98, Hawks 88 -- ATLANTA - Michael Jordan refused to let a sprained right ankle keep him from carrying Chicago to the second round.

Jordan scored 14 of his 39 points after being helped off the floor late in the third quarter and led the Bulls to a sweep of their best-of-5 first-round series.

The Bulls now await the winner of the New Jersey-Cleveland series, tied 1-1 going into their game tonight at the Meadowlands.