NBA Roundup : Vinnie Johnson, Pistons Finally Stop the Bucks

Vinnie Johnson might make it difficult for Joe Dumars to regain his spot in the Detroit Pistons’ starting lineup.

Johnson has played well since assuming a starter’s role when Dumars broke his left hand last month, and Wednesday night at Auburn Hills, Mich., was no exception.

Johnson scored 15 of his 19 points in the first quarter as the Pistons got their fifth straight victory with a 107-96 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who had their four-game winning streak ended.

Johnson, who averaged 19 points in Dumars’ absence, said his outstanding start had nothing to do with the fact that Dumars returned to action against the Bucks after missing 13 games.

“It was a just a coincidence,” Johnson said. “It was one of those things.”

With Detroit trailing, 12-10, Johnson made three straight baskets and a free throw to give Detroit a 17-10 lead. Isiah Thomas made a short jumper to make it 19-10 and the Pistons increased it to 26-16 at the end of the first period on Dennis Rodman’s three-pointer with 30 seconds left in the quarter.

The victory was Detroit’s first in four meetings against Milwaukee this season.

New York 113, Atlanta 101--Mark Jackson scored 11 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, including two three-point baskets, as the Knicks overcame a 12-point second-half deficit to win at Atlanta.

With New York trailing, 76-74, entering the fourth quarter, Jackson made a three-point basket in the opening seconds to start a 10-0 run. The Knicks, who got their fifth straight victory, never trailed after that.

Charles Oakley led the Knicks with 22 points. Gerald Wilkins added 21 and Patrick Ewing 14, including six in the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia 109, Seattle 102--Charles Barkley had 31 points and 15 rebounds, and the 76ers rallied in the final 4 minutes to win at Philadelphia.

Dale Ellis scored 30 points and Xavier McDaniel 20 for the SuperSonics, who tied the score, 97-97, with 4:33 to play, then scored only five points the rest of the game.

Boston 109, Indiana 102--Reggie Lewis scored 31 points and the Celtics survived another late letdown to beat the Pacers at Boston.

The Celtics led by 17 points in the first half, but Indiana rallied to within three before falling to its sixth consecutive loss.

Kevin McHale scored 22 points, and Robert Parish added 20 points and 22 rebounds.

Indiana, whose only road victory in 22 games this season came in Boston Garden, was led by Chuck Person with 28 points and Wayman Tisdale and Vern Fleming with 17 apiece.