NBA Roundup : Mavericks Win Fourth in a Row

Jay Vincent scored nine points in the last six minutes of regulation Thursday night at Kansas City to get the Dallas Mavericks even and made the first basket in overtime to lead them to a 117-110 victory, their fourth in a row.

Rolando Blackman sent the game into the five-minute extra session when he sank a short jumper with 13 seconds left to get Dallas a 103-103 tie. With a chance to win in regulation, though, Blackman missed a long jumper at the buzzer.

The Kings had a chance to win in regulation, too. They led by a point when Don Buse was fouled. If he had made both, the Mavericks would have needed a three-point basket to tie. Instead, Buse, an 82% free-throw shooter, made only one of two, so Blackman tied it with a two-pointer.

Vincent, who finished with 19 points, and Kurt Nimphius made baskets to open the overtime and Blackman made one of two free throw attempts to give Dallas a lead it never relinquished.

After a slow start, Dick Motta’s team, which still lacks a good big man, has battled into contention in the Midwest Division race. The Mavericks trail Houston by two games. Seattle 89, Golden State 86--Jack Sikma scored five points in a 7-0 SuperSonics’ spurt in the last 90 seconds at Oakland.

The Warriors, who lost their sixth in a row, had an 86-82 lead but went scoreless in the last two minutes.