SACRAMENTO, California -- As it turned out, it was a change for the better. The Knicks rolled over 60 percent of the starting lineup last night, trying to avoid a fifth consecutive loss in a deceptively difficult arena. John Starks, Greg Anthony and Charles Smith gave way to Hubert Davis, Derek Harper and Anthony Bonner, in an effort to infuse the Knicks with a different chemistry and some renewed intensity -- and, if things worked perfectly, more points.


The points came -- from Starks and Anthony as well as Patrick Ewing. The intensity was all over the place, particularly from Ewing and from Bonner. And along with it came a win, 100-88 over the Kings at Arco Arena.


"As a team and individually, you hope that this is going to work," Anthony said. "Guys knew that things were not going well and things had to be done."


The unit that played virtually the entire fourth quarter was significant: the three benched starters, Ewing and Anthony Mason. They blew the game open, outscoring the Kings 29-19 in the last 10:25.


Ewing gave his expected 28 points and added 21 rebounds, helping the Knicks to a 54-32 rebounding advantage. Anthony scored 18 points, including three three-pointers, had two assists and two steals. Starks looked like the player he was when he first came to the Knicks four seasons ago -- tough defender, occasional three-point threat, all-around nuisance.


He had 10 points before fouling out with 30.5 seconds left. Smith scored seven of his nine points in the fourth quarter.


At least one change was a complete surprise: Davis for Starks, who is second to Ewing in scoring, was one of three Knicks representatives at last month's All-Star Game, and usually isn't short on energy and passion. Davis scored seven points, but struggled against Richmond defensively.


"Of course I was a little shocked," Starks said of the benching. "I think anybody would be. But as I went back to the hotel room I said, 'Maybe this is what we need.'"


The other players to sit down, Smith and Anthony, had been disappointing and ineffective during the losing streak.


It was just the fifth win in the last 13 games for the Knicks (37-19).


Pacers 106, Trail Blazers 94. In Indianapolis, Rik Smits had 24 points and 13 rebounds, his fifth straight game with double figures in both, as the Indiana Pacers ended the Portland Trail Blazers' six-game winning streak.


Hawks 102, Timberwolves 99. In Atlanta, Danny Manning, in his home debut for Atlanta, hit a 12-foot jumper with eight seconds left, salvaging a victory over comeback-minded Minnesota. The Hawks, who led by 28 points in the third period, still had a 94-69 advantage going into the final quarter, but Chuck Person's 3-pointer with 28 seconds left closed the Timberwolves to 100-99.


Nets 108, Pistons 98. In East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chris Morris continued his tear from 3-point range by hitting a team-record six as New Jersey overcame a slow start against Detroit.


Bullets 109, 76ers 103. In Philadelphia, Pervis Ellison had season highs of 25 points and 12 rebounds as Washington beat Philadelphia, ending the Bullets' six-game losing streak and extending the 76ers' loss skid to 10.


Rockets 97, Magic 85. In Houston, Hakeem Olajuwon scored 26 points and Sam Cassell had all of his 16 points in the second half as Houston held off Orlando, snapping the Magic's seven-game winning streak.


Heat 110, Bucks 102. In Milwaukee, Glen Rice scored 25 points, including 16 in the first quarter, and Grant Long had a season-high 22 as Miami went five games over the .500 mark for the first time in franchise history by defeating Milwaukee.


SuperSonics 112, Hornets 96. In Seattle, Kendall Gill and Gary Payton broke loose in the second half and finished with 21 and 20 points, and Seattle came on strong in the fourth quarter to beat Charlotte.


Warriors 114, Clippers 109. In Oakland, California, Chris Webber celebrated his 21st birthday with 26 points and 18 rebounds, and Golden State held Los Angeles to six points in the final six minutes. (Newsday, AP)