NBA Roundup : Cleveland Ends String by Denver

Ron Harper scored 28 points and Brad Daugherty had 20 points, 15 rebounds and 9 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 122-103, Sunday night at Richfield, Ohio for their fourth consecutive victory.

Cleveland, the best defensive team in the National Basketball Assn., handed Denver, the league’s highest-scoring team, its first loss in five games.

The Cavaliers blocked 14 shots and held the Nuggets to their lowest output of the season.

Larry Nance had 18 points off the bench for the Cavaliers, including 14 in the first half.

John (Hot Rod) Williams, starting in place of Nance, added 16 points and had 5 blocked shots.

Alex English led Denver with 31 points and Walter Davis added 21. Michael Adams had 19 points, including a pair of 3-point shots as he extended his NBA record to 59 straight games with at least 1 successful 3-point attempt.

Denver played without starting guard Fat Lever, who has a sprained right ankle. Lever had played in 247 consecutive games, the last 194 as a starter.

Detroit 102, New Jersey 99--Bill Laimbeer hit three crucial free throws in the final minute as the Pistons defeated the Nets at East Rutherford, N.J. for their ninth victory in 11 road games.

New Jersey pulled within 99-96 on Lester Conner’s jumper with 2:28 remaining, then each team missed several scoring opportunities before Laimbeer made one of two free throws with 15 seconds remaining to give the Pistons a 100-96 lead.

Mike McGee hit a 3-point shot with 6 seconds remaining to cut the score to 100-99, but Laimbeer was fouled on the ensuing inbounds play and he hit both free throws for the final margin.

Adrian Dantley scored 21 points and Laimbeer, Isiah Thomas and John Salley added 19 apiece for Detroit.