NBA Roundup : Harper, Left Off All-Star Roster, Proves Worth in Cavalier Victory

Three Cleveland players were selected to play on the Eastern Conference All-Star team, but Ron Harper wasn’t one of them.

The brilliant guard took his frustration out on the Philadelphia 76ers Tuesday night at Richfield, Ohio.

Harper recorded the first triple-double of his career to lead the Cavaliers to a 118-103 victory. He had 25 points (11 for 19 shooting), 10 rebounds and 10 assists as the Cavaliers improved the best record in the National Basketball Assn. to 32-9.

Both teams were missing a forward. The 76ers were minus the heart of their team, Charles Barkley, and the Cavaliers were without Larry Nance. Barkley has a sprained ankle.

Brad Daugherty, Mark Price and Nance were chosen over Harper, the club’s leading scorer.

“Actually, I was a little mad. I had to take my frustrations out by playing good basketball,” Harper said.

“This is not consolation for anything. But I’m not going to let it bother me. I know I’m a good ballplayer and my teammates know I’m a good ballplayer and the players around the league respect me.”

Daugherty, returning after being suspended for a game after his fight with Detroit’s Bill Laimbeer, also was an angry Cavalier. He had 31 points and 7 rebounds to help the Cavaliers set a club record by winning their 13th in a row at home.

With Nance becoming the first Cavalier to miss a game this season because of injury, only the New York Knicks have had everyone healthy.

New Jersey 118, Seattle 112--The SuperSonics had won 6 in a row overall and 17 in a row at home and were heavy favorites to extend the streaks against the lowly Nets.

The Nets built a 19-point lead early in the second half, fell behind in the closing minutes, then went ahead to stay on Buck Williams’ 3-point play with 38 seconds left.

It was the eighth road win for the Nets, who won only 3 times away from home last season.

Utah 99, Dallas 84--Amid reports that he is about to be traded to Detroit for Adrian Dantley, the Mavericks’ No. 1 maverick, Mark Aguirre, sat out this game at Dallas, complaining of two sore Achilles’ tendons.

In the absence of their best scorer, the Mavericks’ offense sputtered and enabled the Jazz to take over sole possession of first place in the Midwest Division.

John Stockton took charge in the third quarter, making 8 consecutive baskets in a 17-10 run to put Utah ahead to stay. Stockton, making 12 of 14 shots, finished with 30 points and 13 assists.

Detroit 104, Chicago 98--Michael Jordan had his first horrible shooting night of the season at Chicago and the Bulls couldn’t overcome it.

Jordan, who had shot well all season, was only 7 for 24 from the field and finished with 21 points. He fouled out with 22 seconds left in regulation, getting all 6 fouls in the fourth quarter to tie an NBA record.

Despite Jordan’s problems, the Bulls held on until overtime when Dennis Rodman and Bill Laimbeer sank clutch baskets to pull the Pistons through.

The Bulls went into the final period leading by 3 points, but the Pistons, who had lost 6 in a row on the road, battled back to take the lead.

When Jordan fouled Adrian Dantley, he made 1 of 2 free throws to give Detroit a 92-90 lead. Scottie Pippen sank 2 free throws with 16 seconds left to send it into overtime.

Washington 110, Boston 103--When Bernard King gets into the 30s, the Bullets usually win. King had 31 in this game at Landover, Md., and the Bullets erased a 9-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win going away.

John Williams and Mark Alarie each scored 8 points in the last 12 minutes to help the Bullets outscore the slumping Celtics, 34-18.

Milwaukee 117, Sacramento 104--The Bucks fought their way back from a 7-point deficit at Milwaukee to beat the lowly Kings.

The Bucks’ Larry Krystkowiak and Sacramento’s Jim Peterson exchanged punches in the fourth quarter. Krystkowiak hit Peterson in the face with 6:15 left and both were ejected.

New York 120, Indiana 111--Knick Coach Rick Pitino feared a letdown after his team returned from a 7-game trip. He was right.

But reserves Gerald Wilkins and Kenny Walker led a 16-5 spurt in the second quarter that gave them their 15th consecutive win at home.

San Antonio 117, Denver 111--Vernon Maxwell scored 25 points and Greg Anderson 17 at San Antonio to help the Spurs end a 3-game losing streak.