NBA Roundup : Johnson Leads Pistons Past Seattle and Into Lead, 108-95

Vinnie Johnson, who has been the subject of trade rumors, might make it difficult for the Detroit Pistons to part with him.

Johnson scored 16 of his 27 points in the second quarter and the Pistons beat the Seattle SuperSonics, 108-95, for their sixth straight victory to take a half-game lead over Atlanta in the National Basketball Assn.’s Central Division.

“I got into a rhythm tonight,” Johnson said. “It seemed like when I hit a few shots, they (the Pistons) were looking for me.

“When they call your play, you have to shoot. That’s what you get paid for.”

The loss was the SuperSonics’ ninth in their last 10 games and their seventh straight road defeat.

Johnson, who made 7 of 10 shots in the second quarter, scored the Pistons’ first eight points of the period and had a hand in their final eight of the first half as Detroit took a 54-43 lead.

The SuperSonics narrowed the deficit to 65-61 before Johnson scored four points in a 9-0 spurt to help Detroit build a 74-61 lead with 1:37 left in the third quarter.

Seattle didn’t get closer than 11 points again.

Tom Chambers scored 24 points for Seattle, and Dale Ellis added 20.

Indiana 88, Cleveland 83--Steve Stipanovich scored the tiebreaking basket with 1:11 left, and the Pacers held the Cavaliers scoreless the rest of the way at Indianapolis to win their sixth straight game.

Vern Fleming made one free throw, and John Long added a pair in the closing seconds as the Pacers won their eight straight game at home.

Chuck Person came off the bench to score 22 points for Indiana. Long, who had 11 points in the third quarter when the Pacers overcame a seven-point deficit, had 15 points, and Fleming also scored 15.

Brad Daugherty had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Cleveland.

New York 108, Sacramento 104--Gerald Wilkins scored 39 points, including the final four, to lift the Knicks past the Kings at New York.

It was the Knicks’ ninth straight victory at home.

Wilkins’ basket with 1:13 remaining gave New York a 106-104 lead, and he made two free throws with two seconds left.

Sidney Green added 18 points, and Mark Jackson had 14 points and 14 assists for New York. Otis Thorpe had 30 points and 17 rebounds for Sacramento, while Reggie Theus added 18 points and Kenny Smith had 17 for the Kings.

San Antonio 122, Phoenix 114--Alvin Robertson scored 31 points, and the Spurs rallied in the final six minutes at Phoenix to send the Suns to their 15th loss in 17 games.

Robertson had 8 of his points in the closing minutes as the Spurs outscored the Suns, 21-10. Johnny Dawkins had 6 of his 27 points during the deciding span, and Mike Mitchell had 5 of his 26 points.

Phoenix, leading 104-101 with 5:47 remaining, went scoreless for the next 3:09 while the Spurs ran off 13 straight points to take a 114-104 lead. The Suns got two three-point shots from Walter Davis but never got closer than five points.

Frank Brickowski added 22 points for the Spurs. Jay Humphries scored 26 and Davis 21 for the Suns.