BASKETBALL: NEW YORK KNICKS BEAT CHICAGO BULLS

Basketball

The New York Knicks, racked by dissension and struggling against even the NBA's worst teams, gave the league leaders, Chicago Bulls, their worst beating of the year, 104-72, in New York on Sunday. In Orlando, Shaquille O'Neal scored 15 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter as the Magic set an NBA record with their 39th consecutive home win, 122-106 over the Phoenix Suns. Orlando surpassed the mark set by the Boston Celtics bridging the 1985/86 and 1986/87 seasons.

NBA: Orlando 122 Phoenix 106; Miami 88 Cleveland 81; Boston 110 Milwaukee 103; LA Clippers 104 Philadelphia 102; Utah 104 Minnesota 96; Portland 113 Indiana 108 (ot); Houston 95 Vancouver 89; Washington 99 Atlanta 91; New York 104 Chicago 72; San Antonio 106 Seattle 105; Toronto 128 Dallas 112; New Jersey 99 Denver 88; Sacramento 96 Golden State 95.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

ATLANTIC DIVISION

W L Pct GB

Orlando 47 15 .758 -

New York 35 26 .574 111/2

Miami 30 32 .485 17

Washington 28 34 .452 19

New Jersey 25 35 .417 21

Boston 23 39 .371 24

Philadelphia 12 48 .200 34

CENTRAL DIVISION

W L Pct GB

Chicago 54 7 .885 -

Indiana 39 23 .629 151/2

Cleveland 34 27 .557 20

Atlanta 34 27 .557 20

Detroit 33 27 .550 201/2

Charlotte 29 31 .483 241/2

Milwaukee 21 39 .350 321/2

Toronto 16 44 .267 371/2

WESTERN CONFERENCE

MIDWEST DIVISION

W L Pct GB

Utah 43 17 .717 11/2

San Antonio 42 18 .700 1

Houston 41 22 .651 31/2

Denver 26 35 .426 171/2

Dallas 21 40 .344 221/2

Minnesota 19 42 .311 241/2

Vancouver 11 48 .186 311/2

PACIFIC DIVISION

W L Pct GB

Seattle 47 14 .770 -

LA Lakers 38 21 .644 8

Phoenix 30 31 .492 17

Golden State 28 34 .452 191/2

Portland 28 34 .452 191/2

Sacramento 26 33 .441 20

LA Clippers 22 39 .361 25