NBA Roundup : Lowly Nets Defeat Bucks for Third Straight, 123-106

What’s gotten into the New Jersey Nets?

The Nets, who have been the Clippers of the East all season, knocked off the Milwaukee Bucks, 123-106, Thursday night at East Rutherford, N.J., for their third straight victory.

“We’re playing at a really nice level,” said Net Coach Dave Wohl, whose team has its first three-game winning streak of the season. “Our confidence is really high. We’re playing defense at the level we’ve been trying to play all season and that keys our whole game.

“Momentum goes both ways. When you’re going well the jumpers fall, the deflections go your way and the loose balls drop into your hands.”

Only the Clippers have a worse record than the Nets’ 18-44 mark.

New Jersey took control game early, making 62% of its shots in the first half to take a 67-47 lead that grew to as many as 30 points in the fourth quarter.

Buck Williams, who signed a seven-year contract for an estimated $10.5 million earlier in the day, celebrated by scoring 23 points, including 15 in the first half.

Milwaukee fell three games behind Detroit in the Central Division.

Cleveland 116, Phoenix 109--Ron Harper scored 32 points, and Brad Daugherty added 25 to lead the Cavaliers past the Suns at Richfield, Ohio.

Walter Davis scored 34 points for Phoenix and Larry Nance added 27.

Houston 121, San Antonio 112--Jim Peterson had 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Akeem Olajuwon and Rodney McCray each scored 22 points as the Rockets ended a three-game losing streak by turning back the Spurs at Houston.

The victory was the fifth without a defeat for the Rockets over the Spurs this season.

Jon Sundvold scored 19 points and Walter Berry had 17 for San Antonio.

Utah 113, Sacramento 109--Reserve guard Dell Curry scored consecutive baskets in the final 61 seconds to help the Jazz get past the Kings at Sacramento.

Sacramento tied the score, 107-107, with 1:12 left on a pair of free throws by Terry Tyler. Curry hit a 19-foot jumper with 1:01 left to break the tie and added a jumper with 26 seconds left to make it 111-107.

Karl Malone scored 37 points for the Jazz and Thurl Bailey added 22.