Knicks on fire as Sixers opt for Webber buyout

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stephon Marbury scored 24 points as the New York Knicks won their third straight game, downing the reeling Philadelphia 76ers 106-99 in NBA play on Wednesday.

After the game the Sixers, who lost their fourth straight game, confirmed they had completed the paperwork on a buyout for veteran forward Chris Webber and forwarded it to the league office for approval.

Barring any problems, the club will waive Webber on Thursday. Webber had 1- years left on his contract that would pay him $21 million this season and $22 million in 2007-08.

Webber has missed 11 of the past 14 games with foot and ankle injuries, but he has reportedly been unhappy being involved with a team rebuilding as Philadelphia (9-26) clearly is.

The trade of Allen Iverson recently sent a clear message the team was going to try and rebuild with youth.

Acquired from Sacramento in a blockbuster trade in February 2005, Webber has been a disappointment in Philadelphia for the most part and had seen his role dramatically reduced in recent weeks by coach Maurice Cheeks when he was in the lineup.

On court, the Knicks never trailed and blew open the game with a big third quarter to improve to 7-4 since their brawl with the Denver Nuggets last month.

Eddy Curry added 20 points and had 10 rebounds for New York, while Quentin Richardson added 19 as the Knicks (16-21) won for the fifth straight time at home.

Samuel Dalembert scored 18 points and Joe Smith had 16 for the Sixers, who have lost 16 of their last 19 road games.

*Raymond Felton led six Charlotte players in double-digits as the Bobcats upset the Detroit Pistons 103-96 in Auburn Hills.

*Corey Maggette scored 21 points, including the go-ahead basket with less than five seconds left, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers past the Minnesota Timberwolves 92-91, ending Minnesota's four-game winning streak.

*Dikembe Mutombo had five blocks to move into second place on the all-time list as the Houston Rockets crushed the Los Angeles Lakers 102-77. Mutombo also had a season-high 19 rebounds, and now has 3,191 blocks, moving past Kareen Abdul-Jabbar.

*The Dallas Mavericks won for the 15th time in their past 16 games, routing the Portland Trail Blazers 99-74.

*Tony Parker scored 26 points as the San Antonio Spurs edged the Denver Nuggets 92-83.