NBA Roundup : Tisdale Comes Off Bench, Scores 35, as Pacers Defeat Kings

Wayman Tisdale was a major disappointment last season and so were the Indiana Pacers. A marked improvement by the former Oklahoma star this season is reflected in the Pacers’ record.

Tisdale scored a career-high 35 points Sunday at Indianapolis and led the second-quarter rally that helped the Pacers beat Sacramento, 103-101.

It was the fourth win in a row and gave the Pacers 27 victories, one more than they totaled last season when only the New York Knicks had a worse record.

The Pacers started out as if they had missed their wake-up call, falling behind, 31-12, in less than nine minutes. Tisdale came off the bench to spark his team. He scored 16 points in the second period, six points more than the Kings scored in the 12 minutes. As a result, the Pacers jumped in front, 54-45, and led most of the rest of the way.

Tisdale came off the bench to sink 12 of his 17 field-goal attempts. Many of them were from outside.

“Mainly, my game is inside,” the 6-9 forward said, “but I have to show teams I can hit outside. When I do, it opens up everything.”

The four-win streak has enabled the Pacers to strengthen their bid for a playoff berth. They now have the eighth-best record in the Eastern Conference, six games ahead of Cleveland.

Chicago 102, Cleveland 98--When the Bulls missed 13 consecutive shots in the fourth quarter at Chicago and missed four free throws in the closing minutes, it appeared the Cavaliers would pull out a big victory.

But when referee Ken Mauer took a basket away from Brad Daugherty that would have given the Cavaliers a 100-96 lead and charged him with an offensive foul, the Bulls got a reprieve. Michael Jordan sank two free throws in a 43-point performance and Dave Corzine sank a jumper with 47 seconds left to win the game.

“We had the game taken away from us on the call by the referee,” an irate Coach Lenny Wilkens said. “Daugherty gets hammered and, to my amazement, he gets whistled for a foul. It was a terrible call.”

It was also a severe blow to Cleveland’s playoff hopes and the comment will probably earn Wilkens a fine.

Detroit 122, New York 110--Joe Dumars scored 23 points and triggered a tough Piston defense with five steals to help the Pistons win their third in a row and ninth in the last 11.

With Dumars, Adrian Dantley and Isiah Thomas leading the way, the Pistons built a 99-76 lead after three quarters. A 25-6 spurt made it close but it came too late.

Patrick Ewing had 10 of the points in the run, but Thomas scored two quick baskets to put an end to the rally.

Portland 124, Milwaukee 120--Clyde Drexler led a late rally that brought the Trail Blazers from behind at Portland and ended the Bucks’ seven-game winning streak.

The Bucks, who built a 10-point lead in the first quarter, were leading, 116-111, when Drexler, who finished with 29 points, led the winning rally. His two free throws with 11 seconds remaining clinched the victory.

Terry Porter, who converted a three-point play to give the Blazers the lead with 47 seconds left, had 24 points and 17 assists.