NBA Roundup : Cleveland Runs Through New York, 129-107

After so many lowly seasons, the Cleveland Cavaliers have had a difficult time persuading National Basketball Assn. fans they are for real.

Slowly but surely they are doing it. First, they made believers of Chuck Daly, the Detroit Pistons coach who tabbed the Cavaliers as the best in the NBA more than a month ago.

Now they have persuaded another newcomer to the elite class, the New York Knicks.

Ron Harper, who was still burning over being overlooked for the all-star team, did much of the damage as the Cavaliers trounced the Knicks, 129-107, for their 16th consecutive victory at Richfield, Ohio.

The Cavaliers, in ending the six-game winning streak of the leaders of the Atlantic Division, had little trouble with the Knicks’ usually potent press.

Harper had 29 points, five steals, nine assists and nine rebounds. His running mate at guard, Mark Price, dribbled through the press to set up 18 baskets.

The Cavaliers also did the job defensively. They blocked 17 shots, seven by Larry Nance, who also scored 28 points. The blocks and intimidation accounted for the Knicks’ 41% shooting.

“If they see you and that makes them not take the shot, it’s almost as good as a block,” Nance said. “I didn’t sense it (shot-blocking) was the difference in the game, but I sensed they were aware of me.”

The Knicks started well, building a 41-38 lead in the second quarter. But the game turned around after Knick forward Charles Oakley was called for a technical when he argued a foul. Price made the free throw to trigger a 23-7 spurt that put the Cavaliers in command.

By the end of three quarters, the Cavaliers led by 20.

“We have to start stopping people when they come down on the transition,” said Knick guard Mark Jackson, who was 2 for 12. “We didn’t stop them at all. They just did a heck of a job.”

Phoenix 135, Seattle 112--The Suns continue to close in on the Lakers. With Tom Chambers scoring 35 points, the Suns ran their home record to 22-4 and moved to within 1 1/2 games of first place in the Pacific Division.

The Suns, who are 18-0 at Phoenix against Western Conference opponents, took the lead for good on two Chambers’ free throws with 5 minutes left in the first quarter.

The Suns built a 107-83 lead after three quarters. Kevin and Eddie Johnson each had 25 points for Phoenix.

Golden State 133, San Antonio 96--Winston Garland made his first six shots to get the Warriors off to a fast start at Oakland and, when the hapless Spurs made 40 turnovers, it was a romp.

The Warriors won their ninth consecutive game at home to improve their home record to 17-5. They have won six of their last seven and 14 out of 18. The Spurs have lost five straight.

It was the 26th victory for the Warriors and put them only five games behind the Lakers. Last season, the Warriors won only 20 of 62 games.

Philadelphia 113, Indiana 98--Scott Brooks almost outscored the entire Indiana team in the fourth quarter at Philadelphia as the 76ers handed the Pacers their ninth consecutive loss.

The 76ers held only a four-point lead going into the fourth quarter, but Brooks scored all of his 13 points in the last 12 minutes and Philadelphia outscored the Pacers, 27-16, to win going away.

Veteran 76er guard Maurice Cheeks scored 10 points to boost his point total to 10,002 in 11 seasons.

Atlanta 119, New Jersey 112--Dominique Wilkins, bothered by nagging injuries most of the season, is becoming his dominating self again.

The 6-foot-7 forward had 36 points at East Rutherford, N.J., to lead the Hawks to their second consecutive victory. He also had 36 Tuesday night in a victory at Chicago.

The Hawks built an 18-point lead in the third quarter, lost it, then rallied again in the closing minutes.

Denver 117, Washington 106--Alex English scored six of his 32 points in a 12-0 burst to start the third period at Denver and the Nuggets breezed.

The Bullets trailed by only a point at halftime, but when the Nuggets came out hot in the second half, they just couldn’t keep up.

Fat Lever had 24 points and nine rebounds for the Nuggets.